Abstract :
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health problem in developing country like India. Cutaneous tuberculosis which is only 1-1.5% of all cases of extra pulmonary TB, is mostly common in the paediatric age group as compared to adults. A rising incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis is seen as a marker of active transmission of the disease in the community. The present study was done on paediatric age group children (upto 13 years) attending Dermatology OPD of Silchar Medical College and Hospital, Assam to report the clinical pattern and types of cutaneous tuberculosis, and atypical presentations if any, for a period of one
year.
Material and Methods: All the clinically suspected cutaneous tuberculosis in paediatric patients up to 13 years of age attending the Dermatology OPD of Silchar Medical College and Hospital in one year duration were studied to find out the clinical pattern of cutaneous tuberculosis. Selected cases have been subjected to various investigations including histopathological study.
Results: A total of 11 cases were selected after fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria. Male to female ratio was 4.5:1. Commonest type was scrofuloderma (54.55%), followed by lupus vulgaris (36.36%), and tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (9.09%). In this study most of cases were in the age group 11-13 years, the youngest was 4 year old boy. Lower limb involvement was the commonest presentation, followed by involvement of neck. Only two of the cases had family history of TB. All the cases responded well to standard directly observed treatment short course (DOTS) anti-tubercular treatment.
Conclusion: Cutaneous tuberculosis continues to be a significant medical problem even with the advent of highly effective anti-tubercular drugs because it has varied clinical presentations. Therefore high clinical suspicion is required to diagnose the case. Proper and meticulous clinical evaluation with relevant investigation aids early diagnosis and successful therapy.
Keyword :
Cutaneous tuberculosis, Clinical Presentation.