Case report of a laryngeal tuberculosis during pregnancy – challenges in diagnosis and management

Abstract

Although tuberculosis is the leading infectious cause of mortality worldwide, it is a rare condition in Switzerland and laryngeal manifestations are easily misdiagnosed. Patients with laryngeal tuberculosis often present with non-specific symptoms like dysphonia, weight loss, dysphagia or odynophagia. We present a case of a 27-year-old pregnant woman with dys- and odynophagia and non-productive cough not responding to conservative treatment. Laryngoscopic examination showed polypoid alterations, erythema and edema of the supraglottic structures. Biopsy was consistent with tuberculosis. Quadruple antitubercular therapy was started as recommended by the World Health Organization and Swiss Lung Association guidelines. Subsequently, the patient fully recovered from the illness and the follow-up was negative for relapse.

Keywords:

• Laryngeal tuberculosis
• dysphagia
• odynophagia
• pregnancy
• case report

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).