A clinicoepidemiological study of cutaneous tuberculosis in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Cutaneous tuberculosis constitutes 1.5% of extra pulmonary tuberculosis and the disease continues to be a challenging one because of its multifaceted presentation. The present study was done to document the most common type of cutaneous tuberculosis, atypical presentations if any and response to directly observed therapy short course (DOTS)<span lang="EN-IN">.</span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> All patients with clinically suspected cutaneous tuberculosis attending outpatient department of dermatology in our hospital from October 2012 to April 2016 were included in the study. A detailed history of presenting illness and thorough general, systemic and cutaneous examination was carried out along with documentation of demographic details. Routine blood invetigations, biopsy and mantoux test were done. Diagnosed cases were treated with DOTS.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 25 cases of cutaneous tuberculosis were included in the study. Most common type of cutaneous tuberculosis was lupus vulgaris. Atypical presentations noted during the study were multifocal lupus vulgaris (LV), co-existence of tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (TVC) and LV, TVC of lower lip, erythema induratum of bazin presenting as annular plaque in one case and as erythema nodosum in another case. DOTS were effective in majority of the patients<span lang="EN-IN">. </span></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Cutaneous tuberculosis is multifaceted. High clinical suspicion is necessary in rare presentations. Coexistence of two or more morphological patterns can occur. Doubtful cases, 5-6weeks of therapeutic trail helps. Adequate dose is essential for good response. Second line drugs are to be considered in case of failure /clinical resistance<span lang="EN-IN">.</span></p><p> </p>

A retrospective study on clinicopathological correlation of cutaneous tuberculosis

“…6,9,13 The most common type of cutaneous tuberculosis in our study was lupus vulgaris (35%) which was similar to some studies. 10 However few other Indian studies found tuberculosis verucca cutis. 11 as most common type and few others found scrofuloderma as the most common type.…”

“…9 Our study is a keen effort to find out the incidence, clinical profile, and histopathological features of cutaneous tuberculosis atypical presentations if any and response to directly observed short course (DOTS) therapy. 10,11…”

Clinical Spectrum of Cutaneous Tuberculosis in Central India

“…[ 11 ] In India, most of the studies on cutaneous TB have reported males being more commonly affected than females. [ 5 12 13 14 ] Maximum number of our cases belonged to the second and third decades. This result was consistent with studies conducted by Thakur BK et al .,[ 12 ] Aruna C et al .,[ 13 ] Punia RS et al .,[ 14 ] and Shivanna R et al .…”

Cutaneous Tuberculosis: Clinicopathologic Arrays and Diagnostic Challenges

“…The main etiological agent of the Cutaneous tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis —occasionally M. bovis or BCG vaccine (an attenuated strain of M. bovis ) [ 12 , 13 ].…”

“…Lupus vulgaris is the most common form of cutaneous tuberculosis in Europe, India, and Nepal [ 8 , 13 , 16 ]. It is a chronic, progressive, paucibacillary form of cutaneous tuberculosis which occurs primarily in the previously sensitized individual [ 23 , 24 ].…”