Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis: Update on the Epidemiology, Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health threats, competing with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as the cause of death due to infectious diseases worldwide. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) contributes to the burden of disease and does not receive specific attention in international control strategies. We aimed to give an update on the current epidemiological data of EPTB, to describe its clinical spectrum, to identify the main risk factors and to propose effective preventive strategies to reduce EPTB burden.