Drug-resistant tuberculosis has become a major concern for doctors worldwide. Experts said that diagnosing it among children has become a tough task. Doctors at Johns Hopkins Children's Center have lately shared how they treated a rare case of drug-resistant TB (XD-TB).

Dr. Sanjay Jain, Hopkins pediatric TB specialist, shared that it was not an easy case even when they were having all the needed resources. Now, the child is healthy and five years old.

The patient returned from a holiday trip to India having a high fever. Tests were done, but no report showed her having TB. When X-rays and CT scans were done, doctors did get some clue as they found a spot on her lung and her lymph nodes were enlarged.

Doctors put a tube into the girl’s stomach for samples. Also, they prescribed the patient with four standard TB drugs. Her fever became normal and she started gaining weight. But her X-ray test showed her having severe lung inflammation.

After a month, it was confirmed she was having slow-growing TB germs. Jain said that after the 12 weeks of the initial test, it was found that the patient was having XDR-TB. Out of four, three drugs, which she was taking was not working on her.

Her fever came back and lung tissue started dying. Doctors put her into five different, riskier medications. Jain tried an experimental measure in which he used special low-radiation CT scans to track infections. A scan showed her lung infection was getting better and now, she continues to be in a better state of health.