[Ear tuberculosis concomitant with pulmonary localization in an HIV-immunosuppressed patient, in Bamako, Mali].

Abstract

Introduction/rationale: Tuberculosis remains a major public health issue. It is an opportunistic pathology, very common in HIV-immunocompromised persons, classifying it at the WHO stage 4. Ear tuberculosis remains a rare and under-diagnosed clinical form. We report here a case of ear tuberculosis concomitant with pulmonary localization in an HIV-immunosuppressed person on triple antiretroviral therapy aged 32 years hospitalized in Bamako (Mali) to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties posed by this rare localization.

Description of the case: The patient had a chronic productive cough, otalgia and right chronic purulent otorrhea. The search for acid-resistant bacilli was positive for direct examination in gastric casing fluid and swabbing of the ear pus, confirming the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculosis treatment instituted for 6 months associated with adjuvants resulted in complete healing of the patient.

Discussion/conclusion: Although rare, ear localization must be actively sought. Etiological treatment must be instituted upon confirmation of the diagnosis to avoid complications and sequelae.