Genitourinary tuberculosis in Nigeria; a review of thirty-one cases.
OBJECTIVE
To report and discuss the characteristics of genitourinary tuberculosis as observed in a sub-Saharan African setting, where reports suggest its rarity despite reported high incidence and prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis.


METHODS
Thirty one consecutive patients with discharge diagnoses of genitourinary tuberculosis seen in a small community-based hospital over a five-year period were retrospectively studied.


RESULTS
There were 28 males and three females, with a mean age of 37.6 (SD 11.5) years. Forty- three sites were involved in seven organs: epididymis 25 (58.1%), kidney 7 (16.3%), testis 4 (9.3%), bladder 3 (7.0%), ureter 2 (4.7%), prostate 1 (2.3%), and cord of the testis 1 (2.3%). The commonest presenting features were scrotal/testicular mass with or without pain/tenderness (80.6%), fever/headache (51.6%), and dysuria (22.6%). Other common features were back, loin, or abdominal pain/tenderness. hydrocoele, scrotal abscess, and haematuria. 26.9% had evidence of concurrent or previous pulmonary tuberculosis, and 9.1% were positive on HIV 1 & 11 screening.


CONCLUSIONS
With the prevailing conditions in sub-Saharan Africa and most of the developing world and the slightly different characteristics of the disease in our environment, diagnosis of genito-urinary tuberculosis may be difficult. It is advised that patients with unexplained symptoms in the urinary tract should be investigated for tuberculosis.
Department Of Surgery, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria. jayceeorakwe@yahoo.com
J C
JC
Orakwe
P I S
PI
Okafor
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014401:Tuberculosis, Urogenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents