Unexpected diagnosis ‘Foot Tuberculosis’

Abstract

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease still causing significant health problems. Although it is basically a disease of the parenchyma of the pulmonary system, there can be extra-pulmonary involvement of the pleura, the central nervous system, the genito-urinary system, pericardium, eyes, skin, and the skeletal system. The primary source is pulmonary focused, and it is quite rare for infection to occur in the skeletal system by a hematogenous route. The increase in immune system compromised patients and medication resistant bacteria has caused a greater incidence of mycobacterial infection outside the lungs to have been observed. The main problem encountered in tuberculosis in the skeletal system is the diagnosis. Localized pain, high temperature and weight loss are not often seen clinically. A case is presented here for discussion of isolated foot tuberculosis, as a case which is rarely able to be diagnosed, and for which appropriate treatment was given early before the onset of function loss, giving good results.

Keywords

• foot
• trauma
• tuberculosis
• infection

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