Epidemiology, classification, clinical features, and diagnostics of urogenital tuberculosis

Tuberculosis of the kidney, urinary tract and genital tracts (male and female) has followed mankind’s history. During the last century, the number of cases of tuberculosis, pulmonary as extra-pulmonary, has decreased with the social and economic developments. However, in low and middle income countries the trend is still to an increase in the incidence of the disease, especially in populations associated with immunocompromised conditions (e.g. HIV). Large migration of population over the world is also a reason for meeting unexpected new cases in communities where this old disease was almost eradicated. Therefore, it is important for all urologists and physicians to be aware of tuberculosis as a possible differential diagnosis and have the basic know-how for identifying and diagnosing the communicable disease.