Airway emergency in tuberculosis

SummaryWe report a case of acute fatal stridor in a patient newly diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. No evidence of direct airway encroachment was identified at autopsy. We review mechanisms by which tuberculosis may cause stridor and discuss the implications of co-existent HIV infection with reference to the recent literature. The report highlights the need for recognition of acute or evolving airway compromise as an uncommon manifestation of tuberculosis.