[Tuberculosis detected after emergency cesarean section].

A 29-year-old woman at 37 weeks of gestation was brought to our hospital as an emergency patient complaining of severe cough, hemoptysis and dyspnea. On arrival, we suspected that she was suffering from bronchial asthma or pulmonary embolism, but were unable to improve her respiratory condition. The decision was made to terminate gestation immediately and an emergency cesarean section was performed under spinal anesthesia. Postoperatively diagnosis of tuberculosis was made. Fortunately, there was no intramural tuberculous infection. She was a nurse. Nurses are twice as likely as the general public to contract tuberculosis. Medical workers must keep in mind that they may be infected with tuberculosis and they could also become the source of infection of tuberculosis. It is important to rule out tuberculosis when a patient, particularly a medical worker, complains of severe cough, hemoptysis and dyspnea.