Tuberculosis after intestinal bypass for morbid obesity.

Tuberculosis of organs other than the lung may occur after an intestinal bypass operation for morbid obesity, with an incidence varying from 1% to 4%, a value rather higher than that of the general population. As its clinical symptoms (fever and chills, abundant sweating and an increase or return of weight loss) appear during the period of greatest weight loss, it is probably caused by malnutrition and malabsorption. In most cases lymphadenopathy (usually cervical) also appears. Tuberculosis occurring after bypass operation should be treated with the classic antitubercular therapy; this always results in recovery if the disease is diagnosed in time.