Unusual Sites of Cutaneous Tuberculosis: A Report of Two Cases

Multifocal Lupus Vulgaris: A Rare Presentation

Lupus vulgaris (LV) is a common type of cutaneous tuberculosis and commonly presents as a single erythematous plaque either on the face or buttocks with scarring and an active spreading edge. Multiple lesions of LV are sparingly reported in the literature. We hereby report a case of LV in a male presenting with multiple lesions over the buttock, thigh, and trunk. The diagnosis was done on the basis of clinical findings, histopathology, positive tuberculin test, and response to a standard anti-tubercular regimen.

Pediatric Tuberculosis Management: A Global Challenge or Breakthrough?

Managing pediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health problem requiring urgent and long-lasting solutions as TB is one of the top ten causes of ill health and death in children as well as adolescents universally. Minors are particularly susceptible to this severe illness that can be fatal post-infection or even serve as reservoirs for future disease outbreaks. However, pediatric TB is the least prioritized in most health programs and optimal infection/disease control has been quite neglected for this specialized patient category, as most scientific and clinical research efforts focus on developing novel management strategies for adults. Moreover, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has meaningfully hindered the gains and progress achieved with TB prophylaxis, therapy, diagnosis, and global eradication goals for all affected persons of varying age bands. Thus, the opening of novel research activities and opportunities that can provide more insight and create new knowledge specifically geared towards managing TB disease in this specialized group will significantly improve their well-being and longevity.

DISSEMINATED CUTANEOUS TUBERCULOSIS

Cutaneous tuberculosis is a clinically and morphologically heterogeneous group of skin diseases directly or indirectly caused by mycobacteria of the tuberculosis complex, occupying the 5th place among all localizations of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Manifestations of cutaneous tuberculosis are extremely diverse and depend on the immune status and ways of penetration of mycobacteria into the skin. Skin involvement can occur as a result of exogenous inoculation, contiguous spread from an adjacent focus, or hematogenous spread from other foci. Family cases of disseminated cutaneous tuberculosis are described. A combination of several clinical forms of cutaneous tuberculosis — scrofuloderma, tuberculosis cutis lichenoides (moniliformis scrophulosorum) and lupus — are observed in a 5 year old child with a family history of tuberculosis. The issues of pathogenesis and advanced methods of diagnosis of cutaneous tuberculosis are also discussed.