Community-acquired pneumonia mimicking tuberculosis in a patient with Down syndrome treated with adjunctive injectable corticosteroids

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a frequent cause of morbidity in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) due to their inherent immunological vulnerabilities and anatomical predispositions. We present the case of a young woman in late adolescence with DS who developed severe CAP with radiological findings mimicking pulmonary tuberculosis. Despite initial diagnostic uncertainty, the patient improved remarkably following initiation of antibiotics combined with injectable corticosteroids. This case highlights both the diagnostic challenge of distinguishing CAP from tuberculosis in high-risk populations and the therapeutic value of corticosteroids as an adjunctive treatment in severe CAP.