Primary Oral Tuberculosis of Tongue, Tonsil, and Labial Mucosa: A Rare Case Report.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) is worldwide a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and a major public health problem particularly in resource constrained countries. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) accounts for about 20% of all TB cases. Primary oral cavity TB is not only rare form of EPTB but also exists with its diagnostic challenges. To our knowledge, a small number of primary oral TB cases have been reported in literature, which is likely due to the limited diagnostic modalities and its rarity.

CASE PRESENTATION: We report a 40-year-old female patient presented to Dekemhare hospital in Dekemhare, Southern zone, Eritrea, with ulcerated oral cavity lesions associated with painful eating and swallowing. The diagnosis of oral TB involving tonsil, tongue, and labial mucosa was confirmed with Ziehl-Neelsen method and GeneXpert MTB/RIF molecular test from pus scrubbed from the lesions. The patient was treated with current anti-TB regimen.

CONCLUSION: Since TB can affect any site of the body, high degree of suspicion is very important in its diagnosis. This case underscores the importance of considering TB in the differential diagnosis of chronic oral ulcers, especially in endemic regions, and highlights the need for awareness among oral health professionals to facilitate early diagnosis and management of this rare manifestation.