Anasarca as the Initial Manifestation of Tuberculous Pericarditis in a Child.

Pericarditis is a raremanifestation of tuberculosis in children. The usual clinical features include fever, cough, tachypnea, chest pain, and pedal edema. Very rarely, generalized edema may occur as a presenting feature. We describe a 10-year-old boy, who presented with anasarca and had received treatment with corticosteroids for a mistaken diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome and was subsequently diagnosed with tuberculous pericardial effusion. The rarity of manifestations and the difficulties encountered to diagnose tuberculous pericarditis prompted us to report this case. The reportmay serve to sensitize pediatricians to consider systematic investigations to reach the diagnosis in children presenting with anasarca and avoid the empiric use of steroids in anasarca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]