title: Gingival tuberculosis.
abstract: Tuberculosis is a chronic specific granulomatous disease and a major cause of death in developing countries. The clinical presentation of tuberculosis lesions of oral cavity varies widely, including ulceration, diffuse inflammatory lesions, granulomas and fissures. Oral lesions usually appear as secondary to primary tuberculosis infection elsewhere, although primary infection of the oral mucosa by Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been described. We report a case of tuberculosis of gingiva, manifesting as gingival enlargement. Diagnosis was based on histopathological examination, complete blood count, X-ray chest and immunological investigations with detection of antibodies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculous therapy was carried out for over six months. This case report emphasizes the need for dentists to include tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of various types of gingival enlargements.
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Periodontology, GND Dental College and Res. Inst., Sunam, Punjab - 148 028, India.
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Bharti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vipin
authors.forename: Pankaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khurana
references.citation: Quintessence Int. 1997 Nov;28(11):745-7
references.pmid: 9573865
references.citation: J Indian Med Assoc. 2003 Mar;101(3):144-7
references.pmid: 14603957
references.citation: Indian J Med Res. 2004 Oct;120(4):248-76
references.pmid: 15520481
references.citation: Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1991 Dec;72(6):712-5
references.pmid: 1812455
references.citation: Braz J Infect Dis. 2007 Feb;11(1):172-3
references.pmid: 17625751
references.citation: J Oral Surg. 1978 Feb;36(2):144-6
references.pmid: 271703
references.citation: J Oral Sci. 2002 Mar;44(1):55-7
references.pmid: 12058871
references.citation: Indian J Chest Dis Allied Sci. 1986 Jul-Sep;28(3):166-8
references.pmid: 3596671
references.citation: Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 1996 Apr;81(4):415-20
references.pmid: 8705586