Isolated testicular tuberculosis with ethambutol cutaneous toxicity: A combination of two rare entities

Int J Mycobacteriol. 2020 Jul-Sep;9(3):322-324. doi: 10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_114_20.

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection that can affect any organ, affecting mainly the lungs. Isolated testicular TB is very rare. Six months of a multiple drug scheme is the mainstay of TB treatment. Adverse reaction to anti-TB chemotherapy is frequent and affects the course of the therapy, leading sometimes to discontinuation of drugs. Ethambutol optic nerve toxicity is frequent. However, severe cutaneous and anaphylactic reactions associated to ethambutol are very rare. We present the case of an immunocompetent patient presenting with isolated testicular TB that exhibited a severe cutaneous and anaphylactic reaction to ethambutol during the consolidation treatment phase. This led to exhaustive etiologic study and treatment modification.

Keywords: Cutaneous toxicity; ethambutol; extrapulmonary tuberculosis; testicular tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antitubercular Agents / toxicity*
  • Ethambutol / toxicity*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Skin / drug effects*
  • Skin / pathology
  • Testicular Diseases / drug therapy
  • Testicular Diseases / microbiology*
  • Testis / diagnostic imaging
  • Testis / pathology
  • Tuberculosis / complications*
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / drug therapy
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • Ethambutol