Urogenital tuberculosis explained

Urogenital tuberculosis is a form of tuberculosis that affects the urogenital system.

Symptoms

• Persistent cystitis, unresponsive to antibiotics.
• Urinary frequency
• Dysuria
• Loin discomfort
• Malaise and general symptoms of tuberculosis
• Ulcer

However, the infection arises insidiously, being potentially asymptomatic for a long period of time.

Other signs

• Pus cells and red cells in the urine, but no bacterial growth on routine bacterial culture
• Painless intermittent microscopic haematuria
• A painless, non-tender, irregular, and sometimes fluctuating mass on one side of the scrotum.

Complications

Urogenital tuberculosis may cause strictures of the ureter, which, however, may heal when infection is treated.

Pathogenesis

The infection may affect the kidneys, ureter and bladder and may cause significant damage to each.

Epidemiology

It usually strikes young adults with tuberculosis in other places of the body as well. It is common in Asia, but less common in sub-Saharan Africa.^[1]

Notes and References

1. http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/dtc/primsurg/docbook/html/x10627.html Primary Surgery: Volume One: Non-trauma. Chapter 16. The surgery of tuberculosis