Stomach TB Treatment in India

Sneha Williams, a 28-year-old software engineer...

Sneha Williams, a 28-year-old software engineer who recently moved from Mumbai to London, had been battling unexplained symptoms for months. She experienced persistent low-grade fever, night sweats, and a dull, gnawing pain in her upper abdomen that worsened after eating. Despite being an avid runner, she felt constantly fatigued and had lost a significant amount of weight, which her family back home noticed over video calls. Her GP initially suspected gastritis or an ulcer, but a course of antacids and PPIs provided no relief. A referral to a gastroenterologist led to an endoscopy, which revealed suspicious ulcerations in her stomach lining. Biopsies were taken. The gastroenterologist, Dr. Evans, gently explained that the visual findings were concerning for an atypical infection, possibly Tuberculosis, given her background from a TB-endemic region. He recommended a full diagnostic workup, including a CT scan and the biopsy results, to confirm. The waiting period for the biopsy results was agonizing for Sneha, filled with anxiety about a serious illness far from home. When the diagnosis of Gastric TB was confirmed, she was started on a multi-drug anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) regimen. The initial weeks of treatment were tough, with nausea and a persistent orange tinge to her bodily fluids, but she was supported by her new colleagues and regular check-ins with Dr. Evans. After two months of consistent treatment, her fever subsided, her energy began to return, and the abdominal pain became a distant memory. By six months, a follow-up endoscopy showed remarkable healing. Emotionally, Sneha journeyed from isolation and fear, worrying about stigma and her career, to profound relief and resilience. She became an advocate in her expat community for not ignoring persistent symptoms, transforming her fear into a source of strength and awareness.