Two primigravid immigrant women aged 20 and 24 years were diagnosed with tuberculous peritonitis. The cases showed a significant delay in diagnosis. This was probably the cause for the premature birth and death of one foetus. The other child was diagnosed with congenital tuberculosis several months after birth and was successfully treated. The women were treated with the usual combination of isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. The unfamiliarity with this clinical picture is a problem in countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis. In both cases the final diagnosis was made by the characteristic image seen during laparoscopy. An early diagnosis and also an early start with tuberculostatic drugs are important for a favourable outcome of pregnancy. Pregnancy and breast-feeding are no contraindications for treatment with tuberculostatic drugs.

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immigrant Diagnosis, Differential Pregnancy Complications, Infectious pregnancy complication human laparoscopy Humans tuberculostatic agent Antitubercular Agents Rifampin case report female Peritonitis, Tuberculous tuberculosis tuberculous peritonitis pregnancy Incidence Article Drug Therapy, Combination pregnancy outcome adult isoniazid prematurity ethambutol fetus death rifampicin pyrazinamide Fetal Death primigravida early diagnosis