MANIFESTATIONS OF EXTRAPULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS IN ENT REGION - A PROSPECTIVE OBSERVATIONAL STUDY IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a worldwide public health problem despite the fact that the causative organism was discovered more than 100 years ago. Extra pulmonary tuberculosis in ENT region mainly manifests as tubercular cervical lymphadenopathy, tubercular otitis media(TBOM), tubercular laryngitis, nasal TB, deep neck space abscess, tuberculosis of oral cavity. The present study was conducted t Methods: o assess different manifestations of tuberculosis affecting the ear, nose and throat, head and neck regions in patients attending the outpatient department of ENT, in a tertiary care hospital in Upper Assam region. Study period was 18 months from April 2022 to September 2023. Results: Total 100 patients were reviewed, out of which 59 patients were male and 41 females. The most common extrapulmonary manifestation was tubercular cervical lymphadenopathy (82%) followed by deep neck space abscess (8%), tubercular otitis media (5%) and tubercular laryngitis (5%). 42 patients had coexisting pulmonary tuberculosis. And 4 patients were positive for HIV. Extra pulmonary TB in head and neck region is not an uncommon entity, wi Conclusion: th a wide range of presentation. Tubercular cervical lymphadenopathy is the commonest manifestation. A clinician should have a high degree of suspicion in diagnosing these cases. Anti tubercular therapy (ATT) is an effective treatment protocol in all cases of TB.