Cutaneous tuberculosis

What is cutaneous tuberculosis?

It is an infection that occurs when the bacteria that cause tuberculosis infect the skin. The bacteria enter the skin when a person inhales droplets infected with the tuberculosis bacteria or when you have an open wound on your skin, so the germs come into direct contact.

Some people are at high risk for cutaneous tuberculosis, for example:

• Infants;

• Children under 4 years of age;

• People over 65 years of age;

• Health care workers who come into contact with patients with tuberculosis;

• Living in a country where this diagnosis is common;

• A weak immune system;

• Malnutrition;

• Drinking large amounts of alcohol.

The symptoms of cutaneous tuberculosis vary from person to person and depend on the severity of the infection, the patient's general health, and which part of the body is affected. However, in a large percentage of clinical cases, it is characterized by the following signs: skin discoloration, tissue damage, nodular ulcers.

Cutaneous tuberculosis is treated with antibiotic therapy.

In the case of large or painful growths, surgical excision is prescribed, and then plastic surgery is required to restore the integrity of the skin and the visual defect.

Source:

https://www.healthline.com/health/skin-tuberculosis