Genitourinary tuberculosis

Abstract

Genitourinary tuberculosis, once the most prevailed disease, has become very rare. Urinary frequency, pain on urination and aseptic pyuria are the key symptoms of urinary tuberculosis. At least three consecutive urine cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis are necessary. Renal calcification in KUB film, distortion, obliteration and destruction of single or more calices in excretory urography may lead to proper diagnosis. Induration and swelling of the globus minor of epididymis adhering to the skin or with cutaneous fistula are suggestive of genital tuberculosis. It is of extreme importance to suspect the tuberculosis in such patients especially when the symptoms are not relieved by antibiotic treatment. Current short-term chemotherapy using pyrazinamide, isonizid and rifampicin with a help of surgery is successful in most of the patients with genitourinary tuberculosis.