Splenic abscess due to chronic melioidosis in a patient previously misdiagnosed as tuberculosis

Sojan George Kunnathuparambil; Shanid Abdul Sathar; Devang Chandrakanth Tank; Srijaya Sreesh; Madhav Mukunda; Premaletha Narayanan; Kattoor Ramakrishnan Vinayakumar

Authors Sojan George Kunnathuparambil, Shanid Abdul Sathar, Devang Chandrakanth Tank, Srijaya Sreesh, Madhav Mukunda, Premaletha Narayanan, Kattoor Ramakrishnan Vinayakumar.

Abstract

Melioidosis is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia. Sporadic cases have been reported from many parts of the world where it has an epidemic potential with high-rate fatality cases. In non-endemic areas, melioidosis may be misdiagnosed with common diseases and this may prove fatal. Sporadic cases of melioidosis are mistaken for tuberculosis in India. We report a case of splenic abscess due to chronic melioidosis who was earlier misdiagnosed as tuberculosis and underwent anti-tuberculosis therapy. Following treatment of melioidosis his symptoms subsided. This case is reported because of the rarity of the disease and to highlight the importance of looking for melioidosis in patients with splenic abscess even in non-endemic areas.

Keywords Splenic abscess, melioidosis, Burkholderia pseudomallei