[Spinal tuberculosis (Pott's disease): epidemiological, clinical, radiological and evolutionary aspects at the University Hospital of Point G].

UNLABELLED: The spinal tuberculosis or Pott's disease is the most common form of osteoarticular tuberculosis in countries with high prevalence of tuberculosis and HIV / AIDS, but the definitive diagnosis remains difficult. The aim of this work was to study the epidemiological, clinical, radiological and evolutionary aspects of Pott's disease in the absence of evidence bacteriologically and histologically.

METHOD: This is a retrospective study focused on records collected in the service of pneumo-phtisiology UHC of Point G, January 2005-December 2009. Were selected, all folders with the probable diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis and whose antibiotic treatment was instituted.

RESULTS: In total, 178 cases of Pott's disease were reported on 3560 cases of tuberculosis all forms 5%, with an average of 35 ± 6 cases per year. We noted a male predominance (102 men against 76 women) with a sex ratio of 1.3. The average age of patients was 41 ± 15 years. Signs regularly found with their high frequencies more than 80% are impaired general condition, tiredness, vesperal fever, inflammatory spinal pain, elevated velocity settling, spondylodiscitis, back to the apyrexia, improving general health. HIV serology was positive in 5.2% of 152 patients tested.

CONCLUSION: Pott's disease is increasing gradually. The diagnosis is often very presumptive. Also, must you know the time to start TB treatment, for minimizing the post-treatment sequelae.