Childhood cutaneous tuberculosis: a study over 25 years from northern India

AIMS: We undertook this study to analyse the pattern of childhood cutaneous tuberculosis prevailing in northern India over the past 25 years and to highlight differences from and similarities to adult tuberculosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical records of children with cutaneous tuberculosis who attended the Nehru Hospital attached to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India, between January 1975 to December 1999 were analysed. RESULTS: Four hundred and two patients with cutaneous tuberculosis were examined during the 25-year period of observation. These patients formed 0.1% of the total dermatology outpatients. Seventy-five (18.7%) of these 402 cases were children ( 10 mm). Histopathologic reports were available for evaluation in all 75 children. Out of 30 cases of LV, 24 (80%) showed classical tuberculous histology. In contrast, out of 40 cases with SFD, only 19 (47.5%) showed classical histology. Classical tuberculous histology was noted in all 3 (100%) cases of TVC and 1 (100%) case each with tuberculids and gumma. Tubercle bacilli could be demonstrated in 4/30 (13.3%) cases with LV and 9/40 (22.5%) cases with SFD. Systemic involvement was seen in 16 (21.3%) children, of whom 3 (18.8%) had LV and 13 (81.3%) SFD. The lungs were the most common organs involved in 8 (50.0%) children followed by bone(s) in 4 (25.0%), abdomen in 2 (12.5%), and both lung and bone in 1 (6.3%) child. In contrast to adults, girls outnumbered boys in the childhood series; SFD was a common form of presentation in contrast to LV and TVC, tuberculous gumma and tuberculids were noted less often. In both children and adults, Mantoux reactivity did not correlate with the extent of the disease; patients with disseminated disease were found to be less often vaccinated with BCG and regional lymphadenopathy was noted more often in patients with disseminated disease. CONCLUSIONS: In the whole spectrum of cutaneous tuberculosis, there is a proportion of patients with dissemination (systemic involvement) who are of great epidemiological significance as they require a change in the standard therapeutic regimens recommended for cutaneous tuberculosis.     

Cutaneous tuberculosis in children and adolescents: a clinicohistological study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Resurgence of tuberculosis (TB) in the era of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has rejuvenated the interest in this global health problem. Cutaneous TB, an important extra-pulmonary form in children, is commonly seen in our dermatological practice. As detection of acid-fast bacillus (AFB) on smear or culture is not always positive, histopathology is necessary to help in diagnosing and classifying the variants of skin TB. The current study was conducted to analyse the clinicopathological characteristics of cutaneous TB in children and adolescents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 103 patients (age<19 years). A detailed history and clinical examination was followed by complete investigative work up including fine needle aspiration cytology and culture. Histopathological evaluation was performed specifically noting the epidermal and dermal features. The patients were followed up regularly for one year after the start of treatment. RESULTS: The different patterns of cutaneous TB seen were, scrofuloderma 38 (36.9%), lichen scrofulosorum 34 (33%), lupus vulgaris 22 (21.3%), TB verrucosa cutis 4 (3.9%), papulonecrotic tuberculid 4 (3.9%) and erythema nodosum 3 (2.9%). Systemic associations were seen in 55 (53.4%) patients, namely TB lymphadenitis in 30 (29.2%), pulmonary TB in 13 (12.6%), abdominal TB in 6 (5.8%) and TB arthritis in 6 (5.8%). The histopathological corroboration of clinical diagnosis was seen in 65.7% of cases of scrofulodermas, 72.7% of cases of lupus vulgaris and 67.6% of cases of lichen scrofulosorum. CONCLUSIONS: A large spectrum of clinical patterns and histological characteristics of cutaneous TB exists in children. Lichen scrofulosorum is more commonly seen in comparison to adults. Systemic involvement was a feature in a major proportion of our patients.     

Incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis in patients with organ tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis continues to be a health problem in some countries. The development of resistance to antituberculitic drugs and the increase in diseases and conditions associated with immunodeficiency such as AIDS and chemotherapy have caused tuberculosis to increase recently. As a result, the incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis has been increasing as well. AIM: To detect cutaneous tuberculosis in patients with organ tuberculosis and to establish some characteristics of the relation between organ and cutaneous TB. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 370 patients (145 females and 225 males), aged 2-76 years (mean age 27.5), enrolled for this screening study. These patients were hospitalized patients who already had pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed before admission. All patients underwent a general skin examination, and, if needed, cutaneous biopsies were taken from involved skin areas. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-seven (93.78%) out of 370 patients had pulmonary tuberculosis only or in association with one of other organ tuberculoses. Twenty-three patients had extrapulmonary TB: nine were TB adenitis, six were TB peritonitis, three were bone tuberculosis, and five were TB meningitides. Of 370 patients, only 13 (3.51%) had cutaneous TB: seven scrofuloderma (SCD; 2.16%), four lupus vulgaris (LV; 1.35%), one LV and SCD, and one Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) adenitis (0.027%). Cutaneous tuberculosis was observed in seven out of 260 patients with parenchymal tuberculosis (2.96%). Four out of nine patients with TB adenitis (44.4%), one out of 12 pulmopleuretic (8.3%), and one out of 67 pleuresic patients (1.40%) had cutaneous TB as well. Mean age of the 13 patients was 32.46 years: mean age of SCD and LV was 24.8 and 48 years, respectively. The one patient with BCG adenitis was 7 months old. Five (62.5%) out of eight patients with SCD, and only one (20%) out of five patients with LV were new cases. Four patients with SCD had a positive family history, while LV patients did not. CONCLUSIONS: Organ tuberculosis is rarely associated with cutaneous tuberculosis. Scrofuloderma and LV are the most frequent forms of skin TB associated with organ TB in this population. Tuberculosis adenitis is the organ TB that causes cutaneous TB most often among other organ tuberculoses. More than one form of cutaneous TB affected only one patient with pulmonary TB; therefore, it is very rare. Tuberculids were not observed in any of the patients.     

Childhood cutaneous tuberculosis: a 20-year retrospective study in Tunis

Despite prevention programs, tuberculosis is still endemic in developing countries. We assessed the epidemiologic and clinical profiles of childhood cutaneous tuberculosis in our dermatology department from 1981 to 2000 and compared it to previous Tunisian reports and to the relevant literature. This is a retrospective study over a 20-year period (1981-2000) in a large teaching hospital of the capital. Patients included were below age 15 years. Diagnosis was based upon clinical examination, tuberculin reaction, histopathology and response to antitubercular therapy. There were 26 patients with cutaneous tuberculosis, 0.1 percent of the total number of dermatology outpatients for that time period. Of these 26, seven (27 %) were immunocompetent. There were four boys and three girls and the mean age was 9.5 years. Three patients had lupus vulgaris, three had scrofuloderma, and one child had orificial tuberculosis. Six out of seven children were BCG vaccinated. There was no family history of tuberculosis. The Mantoux reaction was positive in six children. There was no systemic organ involvement in all cases. All patients were treated successfully with triple or quadruple anti-tubercular drugs for 4-11 months. Compared to a previous Tunisian report conducted over an 8-year period in the seventies, the incidence of childhood cutaneous tuberculosis has decreased. In that report, scrofuloderma was the most frequent form. Currently the incidence of lupus vulgaris has reached that of scrofuloderma, demonstrating the increase of the clinical pattern associated with strong immunity. All children had localized disease and responded to antimycobcterial chemotherapy.     

Lichen scrofulosorum: a prospective study of 39 patients

BACKGROUND: Lichen scrofulosorum is considered a rare form of cutaneous tuberculosis. Current information is based on case reports and case series with a small number of patients. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients with Lichen scrofulosorum were followed during the period January 1996 to December 2002. Clinical details (age, sex, duration of disease, associated tubercular lesions, extent and distribution of skin lesions), laboratory parameters (hemoglobin, total leucocytic counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Mantoux test, presence of BCG scar), and response to antitubercular treatment were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: 7.6% patients of all (511) patients with cutaneous tuberculosis had LS. 22 (56.4%) were males and 32 (84%) were below 15 years of age. Twenty-eight (72%) had an associated focus of tuberculosis elsewhere in the body; 13 (33%) had tubercular lymphadenopathy, while 11 (28%), three (8%) and six (15%) had pulmonary tuberculosis, intracranial tuberculosis and other forms of cutaneous tuberculosis, respectively. Six (15%) had tubercular focus at multiple sites. Eleven (28%) had no other identifiable focus of tuberculosis. Twenty-eight (72%) had evidence of receiving BCG vaccination. Trunk was the commonest (100%) affected site. The two groups with and without associated tubercular focus were not different with respect to age, sex, duration of disease, hemoglobin, total leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, Mantoux test positivity, and presence of BCG scar. Mycobacteria tuberculosis could not be detected either on acid fast bacilli (AFB) staining or on culture from biopsies of LS lesions. All patients (including those without evidence of tubercular focus) responded to antitubercular treatment, signifying an underlying occult tubercular focus as etiology. CONCLUSIONS: Lichen scrofulosorum is an uncommon but not rare cutaneous manifestation of tuberculosis. A high index of suspicion and awareness is required for diagnosis. Systemic tuberculosis is often associated with LS and a prior BCG inoculation does not protect against development of LS. Response to antitubercular treatment is good irrespective of the presence or absence of associated tubercular focus.     

Clinical and epidemiological observations of cutaneous tuberculosis in Larkana,Pakistan

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous tuberculosis is widespread in Pakistan but has not been fully documented. This study was conducted to determine the clinical pattern, nature and existence of the disease in Larkana, Sindh province, Pakistan. METHODS: We are reporting 153 cases of patients with cutaneous tuberculosis who visited our department from 1996 to 1999. All cases were diagnosed at the clinic, and the biopsies were examined for histopathological evidence. The patients received three antituberculous treatments during a 9 month course. RESULTS: Clinically, 63 (41.2%) cases of lupus vulgaris, 54 (35.3%) of scrofuloderma, 29 (19.59%) of lupus verrucosa cutis, six (3.92%) of tuberculosis cutis orificialis and one (0.64%) case of disseminated cutaneous tuberculosis were observed in our department from 1996 to 1999. All patients were aged between 3 and 50 years and had experienced the present complaints for 1 to 12 years. Sixty-nine (45.1%) cases were children aged under 10 years, 50 cases (37.25%) were aged between 10 and 20 years, and 27 cases (17.65%) were aged over 20 years. There was no considerable ratio difference of the disease between male and female patients. Histopathologically, all the specimens showed chronic granulomatous changes; the majority was infiltrated with epitheloid cells, langhans giant cells, plasma cells and other inflammatory cells, such as lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils in ulcerated lesions. Increased numbers of mast cells were seen in upper and lower dermis in two-thirds of the specimens. Caseating necrosis was visible in half of the specimens while Ziehl-Neelsen stain was negative in all the sections. CONCLUSIONS: The observed number of patients was moderately large, thus indicating a high incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis in Larkana. Lupus vulgaris, a form of cutaneous tuberculosis, was widespread in this area and prevalent in adults, while scrofuloderma was prevalent in children. Moreover, the existing rate of the disease was higher in children aged under 10 years and lower in adults. This indicates that children are more prone to this disease than adults.     

Cutaneous tuberculosis: anatomoclinical features and clinical course (26 cases)

INTRODUCTION: Despite prevention programs, tuberculosis is still progressing endemically in developing countries. The prevalence of cutaneous tuberculosis is estimated as 2.1 p. 100 and represents a rare localization among the extra-pulmonary forms. In order to study the epidemiology, the most frequent anatomoclinical forms and the progressive features of cutaneous tuberculosis, we conducted a study in the area of Tunis over a 20-year period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All cases of cutaneous tuberculosis observed between 1981 and 2000 in the dermatology department of the Habib Thameur hospital were included in a retrospective study. Diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis was challenging and required the correlation of clinical, biological and progressive features. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were observed in the study. There were 12 men and 14 women with a mean age of 30.4 years (range: 6-74) and 20 p. 100 of infantile cases. Of the various patterns of cutaneous tuberculosis seen, 11 (42 p. 100) had lupus tuberculosis, 10 (38 p. 100) had scrofuloderma, 4 (15 p. 100) had tuberculosis verrucosa cutis and 1 child had a perianal tubercular ulcer. The Mantoux test was positive in 20/24 patients. Histological tuberculoid granuloma was seen in 25 cases (96 p. 100) associated with caseating necrosis in 10 cases (38 p. 100). All patients were treated successfully with triple or quadruple anti-tubercular drugs for 6 to 10 months. One patient exhibited a squamous cell carcinoma on a lupus tuberculosis scar four years later. DISCUSSION: The progression of cutaneous tuberculosis remains stable, ranging from 1.4 cases/year between 1981 and 1990 to 1.2 cases/year between 1991 and 2000. In our study, females were slightly more affected than men with a M/F sex ration of 0.86. Before 1984, scrofuloderma was the most frequent form among the cutaneous tuberculoses. Now the frequency of lupus tuberculosis has reached that of scrofuloderma, demonstrating the increase in the incidence of clinical pattern of cutaneous tuberculosis with strong immunity probably related to the improvement in health conditions and generalization of vaccination programs.     

Polymerase chain reaction based detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in tissues showing granulomatous inflammation without demonstrable acid-fast bacilli

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous tuberculosis is especially difficult to distinguish from other granulomatous dermatoses. We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to evaluate the incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infection in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues with unspecified granulomatous inflammation and negative results for acid-fast bacilli (AFB), and analyzed the pattern of cutaneous tuberculosis in this group of patients. METHODS: A total of 38 specimens which had been collected from 36 patients and fulfilled the criteria for tissues described above were used in this study. Two different primer pairs targeting the gene encoding for 16S ribosomal RNA (common to all mycobacteria) and the insertion sequence IS6110 (specific for M. tuberculosis complex) were used in the PCR assays. The clinical characteristics, histopathologic findings, and culture results of the patients were also analyzed. RESULTS: Four specimens were excluded from the analysis due to the lack of internal control testing. Of the remaining 34 specimens, 22 were PCR positive for the 16S rRNA gene. Among them, 18 specimens were PCR positive for both the 16S rRNA gene and IS6110. Cutaneous tuberculosis could be diagnosed in these 18 cases (56.2%). Out of the 18 cases, there were 8 women and 10 men. The age range was 15-77 years (mean: 44.2 years). After reviewing their clinical presentation, 11 cases were considered as tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, 6 cases as lupus vulgaris, and 1 case as erythema induratum. The remaining 4 cases (12.5%) positive only for 16S rRNA gene were considered as possible atypical mycobacteria infection. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that in paucibacillary form of cutaneous tuberculosis with unclassical clinical and histological presentation, this PCR system provides rapid and sensitive detection of M. tuberculosis DNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens. Cutaneous tuberculosis represents a significant proportion in specimens showing granulomatous inflammation. In areas like Taiwan, where prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis is still high, tuberculosis verrucosa cutis and lupus vulgaris are common forms of cutaneous tuberculosis and are seen more frequently than atypical mycobacterial infection.     

A clinical and histopathological profile of patients with cutaneous tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis constitutes about 10% of all cases of tuberculosis, and cutaneous tuberculosis makes up only a small proportion of these cases. Despite prevention programs, tuberculosis is still progressing endemically in developing countries. Commonest clinical variant of cutaneous tuberculosis in our study was lupus vulgaris seen in 55% patients followed by scrufuloderma seen in 25% patients followed by orificial tuberculosis, tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, papulonecrotic tuberculid, and erythema induratum seen in 5% each. The commonest site of involvement was limbs seen in 50% patients followed by neck seen in 25% patients, face in 15%, and trunk in 10% patients. Maximum percentage of patients (55%) had duration of cutaneous tuberculosis between 6-12 months followed by 35% between 13-24 months, 5% had duration of cutaneous tuberculosis less than 6 months, and the rest 5% had duration more than 24 months. The commonest histopathological feature in our study was tuberculoid granuloma with epitheloid cell and Langhans giant cells seen in 70% patients, hyperkeratosis was seen in 15% patients and AFB bacilli were seen in 5% patients.     

Clinical spectrum and histological analysis of 32 cases of specific cutaneous sarcoidosis

BACKGROUND: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown aetiology in which skin involvement is frequent. OBJECTIVE: To review histological characteristics of biopsies of specific cutaneous lesions of sarcoidosis and their relationship with clinical course. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Biopsies from 32 patients with specific cutaneous sarcoidosis were reviewed. Histological findings and clinical characteristics of these patients were analysed. RESULTS: The initial clinical lesions of the patients were ten infiltrated nodule-plaques, eight papules, four maculopapular eruptions, five scar sarcoidosis, four subcutaneous nodules and one lupus pernio. Sarcoidal granulomas were located at dermis in 31 cases (74%) and at subcutaneous fat in 12 (28%) but only four were subcutaneous exclusively. Perivascular or periannexial distribution of granulomas was observed in eight cases (19%) and they had coalescence in 29 samples. The presence of foreign material was demonstrated in 11 cases (26%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical spectrum of specific lesions of cutaneous sarcoidosis showed a good correlation with granulomas localization in the biopsies. However, traditional classification of specific cutaneous sarcoidosis is often overlapping. On the other hand, foreign bodies and other atypical histological findings were more common than initially expected.     

Cutaneous tuberculosis in Blackburn district (U.K.): a 15-year prospective series, 1981–95

Data collected prospectively on all 1065 cases of tuberculosis occurring in the Blackburn district, U.K. (population 265.000), over a 15-year period have been analysed, and from these 47 cases of cutaneous tuberculosis have been identified. The most common form was scrofuloderma, skin involvement with adjacent structural disease, of which there were 2b cases (55. 3%). There was no ethnic bias in this group. The eight white patients with scrofuloderma were of average age 66 years, and are thought to represent reactivation disease.Six palients (12.8%) had lupus vulgaris, four (8.5%) had metastatic tuberculosis and 10 (21.3%) were diagnosed as having one of the tuberculides, of which Bazin's disease (erythema induratum) was the most common. In addition, one patient (2.2%) had orificial tuberculosis. In contrast to scrofuloderma. all other forms of cutaneous tuberculosis occurred almost exclusively in patients from the Indian Subcontinent (ISC).The high incidence of tuberculosis in Blackburn is mainly linked to its significant proportion of residents of ISC ethnic origin. There were no cases of HIV infection coexisting with either cutaneous or other forms of tuberculosis. Recommendations for the treatment of cutaneous tuberculosis are made.     

Cutaneous Tuberculosis in Children

Abstract: Cutaneous tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that accounts for 1% to 2% of cases. Childhood skin tuberculosis represents 18% to 82% of all cutaneous tuberculosis cases. Scrofuloderma and lupus vulgaris are the two most common clinical forms in children. An increase in the number of tuberculids, especially lichen scrofulosorum, has been observed in the last several years. Cutaneous tuberculosis in children can be severe and have a protracted course. Multiplicity of lesions and multifocal disseminated involvement in scrofuloderma and lupus vulgaris is common. Scrofuloderma progressing to gummatous lesions (scrofulous gumma) is mostly described in children. Morbidities and deformities are more severe in children.     

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA using polymerase chain reaction in cutaneous tuberculosis and tuberculids

BACKGROUND:The objective of this study was to explore the role of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fo the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA as a diagnostic aid in cutaneous tuberculosis using routinely processed skin biopsy specimens. METHODS AND RESULTS: A wide range of clinical specimens representing different forms of cutaneous tuberculosis and so-called tuberculids were studied. A sensitive and specific PCR assay targeting the sequence IS6110 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was used. The specimens were categorized as follows. 1 Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) positive on biopsy (nine specimens from seven patients who were immunocompromised). PCR was positive in five specimens. Of these, one specimen was culture positive and three specimens were culture negative. 2 AFB negative on biopsy: (a) tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (23 specimens); (b) lupus vulgaris (three specimens); (c) cutaneous tuberculosis clinically suspected (six specimens). PCR was negative in all specimens. 3 Tuberculids.' (a) erythema induratum/nodular vasculitis (20 specimens); (b) papulonecrotic tuberculid (two specimens); (c) erythema nodosum (20 specimens). PCR was negative in all specimens. CONCLUSIONS: The role of PCR in clinical dermatologic practice, at this stage, may be in differentiating between cutaneous tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections in the context of an immunocompromised patient where AFB can be demonstrated on biopsy and cultures may be negative. In this clinical situation, PCR allows the prompt diagnosis and early institution of appropriate therapy. We have not found PCR to be a useful complement to the clinical and histologic diagnosis of "paucibacillary" forms of cutaneous tuberculosis.     

Dermatological and ophthalmological sequels in toxic epidermal necrolysis

BACKGROUND: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a rare, drug-induced disease characterized by epidermal detachment and mucosal involvement. After an acute period, potentially disabling cutaneous and ocular sequels may appear. Although long-term complications are not rare, only few outcome studies are published. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of dermatological and ophthalmological sequels following TEN, to describe its clinical aspects and correlation with acute involvement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients surviving to TEN were submitted to dermatological and ophthalmological observation ranging from 0.5 to 8 years after hospitalization. Cutaneous and ocular involvement, during the acute phase, was retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Dermatological sequels were observed in 6 patients (75%) corresponding to those with more extensive skin involvement in the acute phase. The most frequent complications were cutaneous dyschromia (62.5%) and nail dystrophies (37.5%). Six patients (75%) had ocular complications with tarsal conjunctiva keratinization in 5 (62.5%) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca in 4 of them (50%). Trichiasis, corneal neovascularization and symblepharon were observed in 1 case. There was no correlation between the severity of acute ocular involvement and long-term complications. CONCLUSION: Following TEN, most patients have dermatological and ophthalmological sequels that persist for several years.     

Natural history of sensitizations in atopic dermatitis. A 3-year follow-up in 250 children: food allergy and high risk of respiratory symptoms.

BACKGROUND AND DESIGN--The aim of the study was to define the natural history of sensitization in atopic dermatitis (AD) through cross-sectional (comparison of three age classes) and longitudinal study: 250 children with minor (32.5%), moderate (32.5%), and severe (35%) AD were examined for aeroallergen and food hypersensitivity (skin tests, clinical scoring after allergen elimination, and food challenges). RESULTS--The allergic screening was negative in minor AD and positive in 33% of cases of moderate AD that were concerned with aeroallergen sensitizations with only limited respiratory involvement. This suggests that nonspecific cutaneous hyperreactivity remains an almost exclusive precipitating factor in moderate or minor AD. Severe AD was characterized by a positive allergologic assessment in 100% of patients: food allergens were incriminated as flare factors in 96% of patients, with associated aeroallergen sensitization in 36%. Even at a young age (less than or equal to 2 years), the severe AD group is marked by an extreme frequency of food sensitization (93%) that persists in 73% of children younger than 7 years and 67% younger than 16 years. From the comparison of three age classes, the sequence of food and respiratory sensitization seems to be part of the natural course of AD. Prospective study in 29 children of group 1 (less than 2 years) with a 3-year follow-up confirms the data of the cross-sectional study since 27 had development of aeroallergen sensitization, with respiratory symptoms as early as age 3 years in 23 of these children. CONCLUSION--The detection of food allergy in a child presenting with AD is likely to indicate a prognosis of severe AD and should be considered by dermatologists as a potentially important predictor of further respiratory symptoms.     

Scrofuloderma with multiple organ involvement in a 5-year-old child

Cutaneous tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis seen in children in developing countries. We report a 5-year-old child with cutaneous tuberculosis with involvement of lymph nodes, lungs, and the musculoskeletal and central nervous systems, which was not clinically obvious. Antituberculous treatment led to marked clinical improvement. The importance of a thorough search for internal organ involvement in patients presenting with cutaneous tuberculosis is emphasized.     

A clinicopathological study of 50 cases of cutaneous tuberculosis in Jamnagar District

A clinicopathological study of 50 cases of cutaneous tuberculosis was carried out. Majority of patients (30%) belonged to the age group 11-20 years. Male to female ratio was 3 : 2. In our study commonest type of cutaneous tuberculosis was lupus vulgaris (36%) followed by tuberculosis verrucosa cutis (32%) and scrofuloderma (28%). Face and neck were the commonest sites (36%) affected. All the patients showed significant response to antituberculosis treatment within a period of 9 months.     

40例HIV合并重症药疹临床分析

目的:分析HIV合并重症药疹的临床特征及治疗措施。方法:回顾性分析2017年1月至2020年12月重庆市公共卫生医疗救治中心感染科收治的HIV合并重症药疹住院患者的临床资料,比较不同类型重症药疹患者之间在人口学资料、过敏史、致敏药物、临床特征及预后等方面的差异。结果:本研究共纳入40例HIV合并重症药疹患者,其中重型多型红斑(SJS) 23例,剥脱性皮炎(ED) 15例,大疱性表皮松解症(TEN) 2例;平均年龄为(48.7±12.8)岁,男性为主,占85.0%。该组患者CD4⁺T淋巴细胞计数中位值为113(14～713)个/μL;常见致敏药物为：依非韦伦、磺胺、中药制剂;皮肤瘙痒(80.0%)、发热(52.5%)为其常见临床表现;90%患者出现黏膜受累,82.5%肝脏受累,65%患者合并感染。三种类型重症药疹比较,仅在发热、合并感染方面有统计学差异(均P<0.05)。所有患者均使用糖皮质激素治疗,平均最大剂量(78±12.6)mg/d, 65%的患者同时联合使用了人免疫球蛋白,使用平均总剂量为(111.4±22.9)g。共3例患者死亡,占7.5%,死亡原因...     

Cutaneous tuberculosis in children a clinico-microbiological study

Twenty untreated patients of cutaneous tuberculosis varying from 2-12 years of age were included in the study. The incidence of cutaneous tuberculosis amongst the paediatric dermatological patients was 0.36%. Of these, 10 had lupus vulgaris, 8 had scrofuloderma, 3 had tuberculosis verrucosa cutis and 2 had lichen scrofulosorum. Three patients concomitantly had more than one type of skin tuberculosis. Systemic involvement in the form of pulmonary and osseous system was seen in 45% cases. The tuberculin test was uniformly positive. Affirmative clinico-histopathological correlation was observed in all the patients. However, acid fast bacilli could not be demonstrated in any of the sections. Only one patient (scrofuloderma) exhibited AFB on smear examination. In the same patient, M. tuberculosis could be cultured on L-J medium. However, Elisa for IgM antibodies in serum was positive in 12 (60%) cases. Need for newer techniques in the diagnosis is emphasised.     

Skin tuberculosis in children: learning from India

Cutaneous tuberculosis in children is a major health problem in India. It accounts for about 1.5% of all the cases of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Scrofuloderma and lupus vulgaris are the two most common forms of tuberculosis. However, the trend in the pattern of cutaneous tuberculosis is changing, as the tuberculid, lichen scrofulosorum, has become more common in recent years. Overall, the clinical patterns are comparable with adults. However, children can have widespread and severe involvement because many unusual and uncommon patterns are known to occur in children. Underlying systemic involvement is more common in children, compared with adults.