Abstract:

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of the patients with severe tuberculosis in pregnancy or puerperium. Methods A retrospective analysis was done among eleven patients who got severe tuberculosis in pregnancy or puerperium (9 cases were in pregnancy while 2 cases were in puerperium) and hospitalized in the Severe Tuberculosis Department of Changsha Central Hospital (Changsha Pulmonary Hospital) from September 2017 to September 2019. The clinical characteristics and the treatment outcomes of those enrolled patients and the situation of infants were analyzed and summarized. Results Two patients were in the early stage of pregnancy and all of them were terminated timely. Four patients were in the mid-term stage of pregnancy, one continued pregnancy and the baby were full-termly delivered; one was terminated timely; one aborted during treatment; and one died (the fetus also died) due to rapid deterioration of her condition. Three patients were in the late stage of pregnancy, one continued pregnancy and the baby were full-termly delivered; the other two continued pregnancy and the babies were prematurely delivered during treatment. Six patients were in puerperium (2 cases delivered before admission and 4 cases delivered after admission) and all of them got treatment and were separated from their newborns. All eleven patients were given active anti-tuberculosis treatment and corresponding supportive treatment, ten of them improved and were discharged from the hospital, one died. Six newborns were delivered successfully in eleven cases, two newborns were full-term while four were premature. All six newborns were not infected tuberculosis and breastfeeding were not given. Conclusion It is extremely harmful to the health of mother and infant when woman gets severe tuberculosis in pregnancy or puerperium. The awareness and understanding to the clinical characteristics of severe tuberculosis in pregnant and puerperal woman should be strengthened. The favorable treatment outcomes can be achieved if proper treatment regimen is given.

Key words: Pregnancy, Puerperal disorders, Tuberculosis, Treatment outcome