Multifocal Osteomyelitic Tuberculosis at Rare Locations with Metastatic Tuberculosis Abscess.

BACKGROUND Multifocal tuberculosis (TB) with more than 1 tuberculous osteoarticular lesion is rare. Furthermore, metastatic tuberculous abscess (MTA) is also a very rare manifestation of cutaneous TB in children. A non-specific, often subtle, early clinical presentation in conjunction with a low prevalence rate constitute obstacles for diagnosis. CASE REPORT A 9-years old female patient was referred to Hasan Sadikin Pediatric Respirology Outpatient clinic from the Orthopedic Department with lumps at the left elbow joint, lateral side of the left hand, and lateral side of the left foot. Fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lumps suggested a chronic inflammation due to TB. The patient was then started with a course of anti-TB drugs consisting of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. During the treatment course, she experienced anti-TB drug-induced hepatotoxicity (ADIH). We then switched the regimen to streptomycin and ethambutol for 2 weeks, then reintroduced treatment with the modified British Thoracic Society guidelines regimen. The nodules appeared shrunken after 3 months of treatment with anti-TB drugs. CONCLUSIONS Increased awareness of unusual manifestations of TB will likely allow for proper diagnosis and management of this common infection. Accordingly, timely diagnosis and management will prevent further debilitating sequelae.

Tuberculosis of the elbow joint in children: a review of ten patients who were managed nonoperatively.

BACKGROUND: There is scarce information regarding osteoarticular tuberculosis of the elbow in children, even in countries where tuberculosis is endemic. We report our experience with ten patients who were managed nonoperatively. METHODS: We retrospectively assessed ten children with elbow tuberculosis with regard to their presentation, diagnosis, management, response to standard antitubercular drugs, and outcome at the completion of antitubercular therapy. All patients were managed nonoperatively with splinting for as long as six weeks, followed by mobilization along with multidrug antitubercular medication for twelve months. RESULTS: Swelling of the elbow that did not respond to initial treatment was the most common cause for referral to our clinic. The proximal ulnar metaphysis was most commonly involved. The average duration of follow-up was twenty-six months. The average time for healing of draining sinuses was twelve weeks (range, four to fourteen weeks). Lytic lesions, including coke-like sequestrum, healed radiographically at an average of 7.4 months (range, six to nine months). Range of motion improved with treatment, but some motion restriction always persisted, depending on the extent of joint destruction. CONCLUSIONS: In the Indian subcontinent, the presentation of elbow tuberculosis is usually exudative with abscess formation, and the disease is fairly advanced at the time of diagnosis. An "ice cream scoop" appearance of the proximal part of the ulna in children should raise suspicion for tuberculosis. Elbow tuberculosis in children can be treated adequately with use of nonoperative means, regardless of the extent of osseous destruction, with a good outcome.

Group A streptococcal osteomyelitis: severe presentation and course.

AIM: To evaluate the course of group A streptococcal osteomyelitis associated with severe disease nowadays. METHODS: Three consecutive cases of severe group A streptococcal disease with osteomyelitis in children that were documented in Beer Sheva, Israel are described in detail. RESULTS: Two of the three cases were postvaricella. Early in the course of the disease, the presentation resembled that of severe cellulitis. All three patients had severe osteomyelitis and required surgery, and one patient developed chronic osteomyelitis. Sepsis was diagnosed in two cases. CONCLUSION: Our cases are distinguishable from typical haematogenous staphylococcal osteomyelitis by the severe course and the extensive involvement of bone and soft tissues. The increase in severity of invasive group A streptococcal infections documented throughout the world could account for the difference between our complex cases and the previous reports.

Osteomyelitis due to Kingella kingae infection.

A case of osteomyelitis due to Kingella kingae is presented to illustrate the insidious onset and indolent course typical of bone infections caused by this organism. The frequently negative result obtained with Gram's stain and the fastidious nature of the organism makes diagnosis difficult. Initial therapy with an aminopenicillin such as ampicillin in addition to antimicrobial drugs for Staphylococcus aureus should be effective in resolving bone and joint infections in children.