Gingival manifestations of tuberculosis in pediatric patients: series of 4 cases.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to evaluate the gingival manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) in the oral cavity in pediatric patients.

STUDY

DESIGN

Four pediatric patients were enrolled in the study. Clinical symptoms, auxiliary examinations, treatments, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. Four pediatric patients who presented with atypical gingival lesions were thoroughly examined for local and systemic signs and symptoms, and a detailed history was obtained. All relevant investigations led to a definitive diagnosis of oral tuberculous lesions. On the basis of the final diagnosis, antitubercular therapy (ATT) was started for all the pediatric patients, and outcomes were measured.

RESULTS

All 4 patients responded very well to the treatment, with complete resolution of the lesions within 6 months after the initiation of ATT.

CONCLUSIONS

Health care professionals should rule out TB as one of the differential diagnoses in pediatric patients with atypical gingival lesions. ATT is strongly recommended for the treatment of oral TB to achieve good clinical outcomes. Rapid molecular tests based on nucleic amplification should be utilized for the diagnosis of TB in children and also for extrapulmonary TB because they are much faster and reliable compared with conventional methods.