Concomitant occurrence of leprosy and tuberculosis--a clinical, bacteriological and radiological evaluation

One hundred and seventeen consecutive patients of leprosy were bacteriologically and radiologically investigated for evidence of concomitant tuberculosis anywhere in the body. Out of the total, only 9 patients (7.7%) showed evidence of active tuberculosis bacteriologically and/or radiologically. Three patients had sputum positive for AFB, 2 out of these were radiologically negative while one had evidence of pulmonary tuberculosis. From 7 patients with radiological evidence of tuberculosis, tubercle bacilli could be grown in only one. Tuberculosis was found to occur throughout leprosy spectrum. It is important to recognise the presence of tuberculosis in leprosy patients so that proper therapeutic measures may be taken to avoid monotherapy of tuberculosis.