Concomitant age old infections of mankind – tuberculosis and leprosy: a case report
2007

Case Report on Tuberculosis and Leprosy Co-infection

Sample size: 2 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Sreeramareddy Chandrashekhar T, Menezes Ritesh G, Kishore PV

Primary Institution: Manipal Teaching Hospital, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal

Hypothesis

Can corticosteroid treatment in leprosy patients lead to the development of tuberculosis?

Conclusion

Clinicians should recognize corticosteroid treated leprosy patients as a population likely to develop concomitant tuberculosis.

Supporting Evidence

  • Both patients had a history of leprosy and were treated with glucocorticoids.
  • One patient presented with symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis after three months.
  • Both patients were diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis while on treatment for leprosy.

Takeaway

This study talks about two patients who had leprosy and also got tuberculosis while being treated with steroids. It shows that steroids might make leprosy patients more likely to get tuberculosis.

Methodology

Case report of two patients with leprosy and tuberculosis.

Limitations

The study is based on only two case reports, limiting generalizability.

Participant Demographics

Two male patients, aged 65 and 50, both with a history of leprosy.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1752-1947-1-43

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