Case report

Concomitant age old infections of mankind – tuberculosis and leprosy: a case report

Chandrashekhar T Sreeramareddy¹ , Ritesh G Menezes² and PV Kishore³

¹  Department of Community Medicine, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal

²  Department of Forensic Medicine, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal

³  Department of Internal Medicine, Manipal Teaching Hospital, Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhara, Nepal

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Journal of Medical Case Reports 2007, 1:43doi:10.1186/1752-1947-1-43

Published:	5 July 2007

Abstract

Background

Concomitant leprosy and tuberculosis is reported infrequently. Literature suggests that the infrequent occurrence of both leprosy and tuberculosis is based on the transmission dynamics of both the infections.

Case presentation

Two cases of pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed in patients being treated with glucocorticoids for complications of leprosy are reported.

Conclusion

Clinicians should recognize corticosteroid treated leprosy patients as a population likely to develop concomitant tuberculosis.