Two Cases of Intestinal Tuberculosis With Severe and Fatal Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Is the Indication for Intravenous Therapy Essential?

These two cases involve two patients with intestinal tuberculosis and severe lower gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. The first case was a young woman who lived with HIV/AIDS and disseminated tuberculosis with wasting, pulmonary, and abdominal involvement that, despite the usual tuberculostatic treatment, evolved with a massive GI bleed. Her colonoscopy showed granulomatous colitis with active bleeding, and her biopsy showed positive acid-fast bacilli, confirming the diagnosis.