[Crohn disease and abdominal tuberculosis: complications related to a diagnostic error].

Introduction: We report the case of a patient with abdominal tuberculosis initially treated as Crohn disease.

Case: A 50-year-old man, diagnosed with Crohn disease, was admitted to the intensive care unit for acute respiratory failure. After a new diagnosis of pulmonary and ileocecal tuberculosis and appropriate treatment for it, he improved.

Discussion: It is difficult - but essential - to differentiate intestinal tuberculosis and Crohn disease, for the immune suppression necessary to treat the latter can induce severe complications of the former. Management of intestinal tuberculosis is primarily medical, with surgery reserved for complications such as obstruction, fistulization, perforation, and bleeding.