Spinal tuberculosis in young children: Is it really unusual presentation in endemic countries like India

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a necrotizing bacterial infection with protean manifestations. Skeletal TB accounts for 2–20% of all extra pulmonary cases in various studies and spinal TB is the most common form of skeletal involvement by TB (about half the cases of skeletal TB). It is predominantly a disease of the young adults. However, there is no exact data for its incidence in the pediatric population. Spinal TB is an unusual presentation before the age of 5 years. Here we report three different presentations of spinal TB presenting in the very early age.

Keywords

Spinal tuberculosis - Pott's spine - vertebral osteomyelitis