Papulonecrotic tuberculid in a patient with pulmonary tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infectious Diseases
• Pulmonology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) can manifest with diverse extrapulmonary symptoms.
• Papulonecrotic tuberculid (PNT) is a rare cutaneous manifestation of TB.

Observation:

• A 55-year-old male presented with a month of recurrent crusted papular lesions and boils on the buttocks.
• The patient also reported a recent history of productive cough.

Findings:

• Clinical presentation, laboratory results, and response to treatment confirmed a diagnosis of papulonecrotic tuberculid co-occurring with pulmonary tuberculosis.
• The patient showed improvement after initiating antitubercular therapy.

Implications:

• This case underscores the importance of considering tuberculosis in patients presenting with unusual dermatological conditions like PNT.
• Early diagnosis and appropriate antitubercular treatment are crucial for managing both cutaneous and pulmonary manifestations of TB.