Report of a Rare Case of Pubic Symphysis Tuberculosis in an Eight-Year-Old Child: An Unusual Presentation of the Disease

Abstract

Tuberculosis is a well-known and ancient disease with a wide range of clinical presentations. Although tuberculosis is a well-known infectious disease, involvement of the symphysis pubis is rare, with only a few documented cases in the medical literature. Distinguishing it from other more common conditions, such as osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis and osteitis pubis, is essential to avoid delay in diagnosis and to minimize morbidity, mortality, and complications. We present a rare case of tuberculosis of the symphysis pubis in an eight-year-old female from India who was initially misdiagnosed with osteomyelitis. Following the correct diagnosis and commencement of anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, the patient demonstrated improvement in symptoms and hematological parameters at the three-month follow-up. This case emphasizes the importance of considering tuberculosis as a differential diagnosis in cases of symphysis pubis involvement, especially in areas with a high incidence of tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment can prevent further complications and improve clinical outcomes. Copyright © 2023, Singh et al.