Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Intercostal Zona Complicating Abusive Corticosteroid Therapy: About a Case

Abstract

The present case study describe the pulmonary tuberculosis and intercostal zona complicating abusive corticosteroid therapy. Corticosteroids have changed the history and prognosis of most inflammatory diseases by the effectiveness and speed of their action. Far from being a universal panacea, the abusive and long-term use of these powerful anti-inflammatory agents with immunosuppressive effect, exposes to severe complications, some of which, namely opportunistic infections, are serious. A case showed 59-year-old patient with a history of long-term systemic corticosteroid therapy based on dexamethasone established for an acute orchiepididymitis and with no notion of tuberculous contagion found, who had consulted at the Gloria Medical Union Clinic for chronic cough, vespero-nocturnal fever and painful rashes.  The clinical examination found bilateral pulmonary condensation, a vesicular band rash lesion, metameric from front to back and hyperesthesic resting on an erythematous background, located in the lower third disengaging on the right hemithorax on an erythematous background, surmounted by embedded vesicles under the skin and grouped in clusters in places without going beyond the left contralateral hemithorax to the midline. Compliance with the indications and close monitoring of patients on corticosteroid therapy will, as far as possible, avoid them.