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Joint tuberculosis occurs as a result of a primary infection of the synovium of a joint or from a breakthrough tuberculous bone near the joint.
Symptoms of joint tuberculosis
The process is slow and secretive. There is pallor, weight loss, low-grade fever and night sweats. Sometimes the course of the disease is not very characteristic and may be acute, which is often treated as the onset of rheumatic disease. There is warming of the joint, limb emaciation, limitation of joint movement, and enlargement of local lymph nodes. There may be some exudate in a joint, such as a knee. The ongoing process leads to the destruction of articular cartilage, fibrosis of the synovium and joint destruction.
Joint tuberculosis – diagnosis
The diagnosis of tuberculosis of the joint is made on the basis of a carefully conducted interview, including environmental, additional tests – histological examination and biological test.
Joint tuberculosis – treatment
The cure of tuberculosis of the joint occurs after the removal of the focus and a long combined pharmacological treatment. Sometimes the changes require surgical treatment, e.g. synovial removal, and then pharmacological treatment.