A report of cutaneous tuberculosis in siblings.
Cutaneous tuberculosis is rarely seen in the United States, and we are unaware of any reports of siblings sharing the diagnosis. We report an instance of cutaneous tuberculosis affecting two sisters. The first sibling had skin biopsy specimen findings suggestive of an infectious source, but special stains and cultures were negative. Only with further evaluation using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was the diagnosis established. The second sibling had positive staining for acid-fast bacilli, though her cultures were also negative. A high level of suspicion for tuberculosis should be maintained in otherwise healthy children with nonspecific, granulomatous disorders of the skin. PCR may be a useful tool for selected cases in which a high level of clinical suspicion exists, but special stains and cultures are negative.
Nunez-Gussman
Janna
J
Department of Dermatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Starke
Jeffrey
J
Correa
Armando
A
Graviss
Edward A
EA
Pan
Xi
X
Popek
Edwina
E
Metry
Denise
D
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014382:Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000995:Antitubercular Agents