PULMONARY NOCARDIOSIS WITH BETA THALASSEMIA TRAIT IN AN HIV INFECTED PERSON: A CASE REPORT

Abstract

People with human immunodeciency virus (HIV) infection are prone to develop pulmonary opportunistic infections like Tuberculosis, Pneumocystis carnii pneumonia (PCP), Pulmonary Nocardiosis. It is often underdiagnosed opportunistic infection since the manifestations are similar to Pulmonary Tuberculosis. We have seen patients being started on Antituberculosis Therapy (ATT) empirically, but is no clinical improvement even after 4 weeks of treatment, due to wrong diagnosis. We present a 63-year-old female patient newly diagnosed with HIV presented with recurring loose stools, vomiting, fever since 8 months, with no chest symptoms. She was evaluated and treated at various Hospitals for chronic Gastro-Intestinal tract illness like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Mal Absorption Syndrome, Chronic Diarrhea, Right upper lobe cavitatory tumor-? Carcinoid with Hypertension, and was even advised resection of effected lung, emerged out as an absolute different diagnosis – Pulmonary Nocardiosis with beta Thalassemia trait and promptly responded to treatment. In this case we saw common disease with uncommon presentation.