extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis is tuberculosis (TB) within a location in the body other than the lungs. It accounts for an increasing fraction of active cases, from 20 to 40% according to published reports, and causes other kinds of TB. These are collectively denoted as "extrapulmonary tuberculosis". Extrapulmonary TB occurs more commonly in immunosuppressed persons and young children. In those with HIV, this occurs in more than 50% of cases. Notable extrapulmonary infection sites include the pleura (in tuberculous pleurisy), the central nervous system (in tuberculous meningitis), the lymphatic system (in scrofula of the neck), the genitourinary system (in urogenital tuberculosis), and the bones and joints (in Pott disease of the spine), among others. Infection of the lymph nodes, known as tubercular lymphadenitis, is the most common extrapulmonary form of tuberculosis. An ulcer originating from nearby infected lymph nodes may occur and is painless. It typically enlarges slowly and has an appearance of "wash leather". When it spreads to the bones, it is known as skeletal tuberculosis, a form of osteomyelitis. Tuberculosis has been present in humans since ancient times. Central nervous system infections include tuberculous meningitis, intracranial tuberculomas, and spinal tuberculous arachnoiditis.