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Skin infections
Published in Ronald Marks, Richard Motley, Common Skin Diseases, 2019
Tuberculosis is a multi-system disease caused by varieties of the waxy-enveloped bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Several types of skin tuberculosis were once commonly seen, but are now quite rare in developed countries. However, tuberculosis is, unfortunately, now once again becoming quite common and multiple-drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis are becoming a major problem in communities with a high prevalence of HIV infection. The bacillus can be cultured in special media in vitro, but grows very slowly. Special stains are needed to detect it in tissue.
Infections and infestations affecting the nail
Published in Eckart Haneke, Histopathology of the NailOnychopathology, 2017
This type of skin tuberculosis is also called lupus vulgaris. Most lesions occur in cool regions of the body, for instance the face, nose, and ears. One or a few well-circumscribed reddish-brown lesions are seen that tend to ulcerate. Pressing on such a lesion with a glass slide makes the blood disappear and an apple jelly color is seen. The chronic lesion tends to ulcerate anew in the old cicatricial areas leading to mutilation (which gave the name to the disease: lupus [Latin] wolf—thus devouring skin disease). Over time, squamous cell carcinoma may develop in long-standing lupus vulgaris. It is apparently very rare in the nail apparatus.121
Non-Respiratory Tuberculosis
Published in Peter D O Davies, Stephen B Gordon, Geraint Davies, Clinical Tuberculosis, 2014
Lupus vulgaris is another common form of skin tuberculosis [164,165] (Figure 11.15). This is a slowly progressive form, more common in older patients, over periods ranging from months to many years. The lesions are dull red or violaceous, with the extremities, face and head the most common sites. There is sometimes an active psoriaform edge of active disease and residual scarring with ‘tissue-paper’ skin where the past infection has been. If deeper tissues, such as cartilage in ears and nose, become involved, substantial deformity can result (hence the name lupus vulgaris), and the disease is occasionally complicated by squamous carcinoma.
Tuberculosis and leprosy associated with historical human population movements in Europe and beyond – an overview based on mycobacterial ancient DNA
Published in Annals of Human Biology, 2019
An earlier example is described in the London Bills of Mortality where there is a comparison of the incidence of tuberculosis in 1665, depending on whether or not the week was free of bubonic plague. In the week of 28 February–7 March there was no plague, but 95 deaths were reported due to ‘consumption’. In contrast, the week of 8–15 August 1665 was at the height of the bubonic plague outbreak, causing 3880 deaths in a week, but also 174 deaths due to consumption plus 10 deaths from scrofula (skin tuberculosis) (Donoghue 2008).