Study on association of cutaneous tuberculosis with pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND

Tuberculosis continues to be a health problem in many countries. There may be simultaneous multiple organ involvement. Diagnosis of one organ disease may lead to missing off diagnosis of other organ involvement.

OBJECTIVES

The present study was done to analyze the association of cutaneous tuberculosis with pulmonary tuberculosis.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Through purposive sampling a total of 23 patients of suspected cutaneous tuberculosis were primarily enrolled in this cross sectional study. History was taken and examinations were done to find out types of cutaneous lesions and to explore a pulmonary involvement. Investigations including CBC with ESR, Mantoux test and skin biopsy were done for each and every patient. Those who had cutaneous tuberculosis on histopathology chest x-ray were done to detect pulmonary lesions. After investigations 2 patients were excluded due to absence of tubercular infection. Finally 21 patients were included in this study. Data were collected in a predesigned structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

Out of 21 patients 16 (76.19%) were male and 5 (23.81%) were female with a male to female ratio of 3.2:1. Age range varies from 5-70 years with a mean of 29.76 +/- 1 8.2 years. MT was positive in 76.20% of patients. CXR showed 23.81% of the patients with cutaneous TB had simultaneous pulmonary involvement. The association is statistically significant (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with cutaneous tuberculosis may have pulmonary involvement in a statistically significant number. In any patient with cutaneous TB, meticulous systemic examinations and relevant investigations have to be done to explore pulmonary involvement.