OCULAR TUBERCULOSIS

Course overview

OCULAR TUBERCULOSIS IS A RARE EXTRAPULMONARY MANIFESTATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS INFECTION. CLINICAL SYMPTOMS PRIMARILY OCCUR FROM HEMATOGENOUS DISSEMINATION FROM THE LUNGS TO THE UVEAL TRACT. OCULAR TUBERCULOSIS IS A GREAT IMITATOR OF OCULAR PATHOLOGIES AND THEREFORE REQUIRES A HIGH INDEX OF SUSPICION BEFORE MAKING THE DIAGNOSIS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE FUNDOSCOPIC SIGNS MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED WITH OCULAR TUBERCULOSIS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE LESIONS. IT HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN EVALUATING AND ADMINISTERING TREATMENT, SPECIFICALLY IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS-INFECTED PERSONS, AS THESE INDIVIDUALS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY M. TUBERCULOSIS.