Activation of tuberculosis in recovered COVID-19 patients: a case report

Currently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis (TB) are among the most important causes of respiratory infections around the world. Both of them are sources of concern for human health and life safety. COVID-19 caused the deaths of millions of people, and many of them suffered from what has become known as 'post-COVID squeal'. Immunosuppression is one of the most important of these symptoms that leave patients susceptible to severe infections like TB. In these two cases, the authors observed the development of active TB after a period of COVID recovery. Two patients who were admitted to the hospital complained mainly, among other symptoms, of fever and a continuous cough after a period of COVID-19 recovery. Radiological examination revealed a caving density in the two cases, and the Gene-Xpert test proved the presence of bacteria despite the negative result of the Ziehl-Neelsen stain. The two patients were improved after standard TB treatment. Patients with post-COVID-19 chronic respiratory symptoms should be screened for TB, especially in TB-endemic areas, even though the result of the Ziehl-Neelsen stain was negative.