Familial Tubercular Abscesses

Shweta Bargaje¹, Ira Shah^2
12nd MBBS, Seth G S Medical College, Mumbai, India, ²Consultant in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Levioza Health Care, Mumbai, India

Address for Correspondence: Dr Shweta Bargaje, Seth G S Medical College, Parel, Mumbai 400012. Email: shwetabargaje22@gmail.com

Clinical Problem:
A 13 month old boy presented with an abscess over the right thigh following measles vaccine. The abscess was drained and histopathology of the abscess wall showed non-caseating granulomatous inflammation suggestive of atypical mycobacterial infection. Cultures and PCR tests were not done. His Mantoux test was positive (12mm) and chest X-ray was normal. Paternal cousin brother had axillary BCG adenitis requiring incision and drainage along with anti-tubercular therapy (ATT) for six months. His mother also had tuberculous abscess over the back 9 years ago and required incision and drainage along with ATT. This child was started with isoniazid, rifampicin, clarithromycin, ethambutol and ofloxacin. ATT was stopped after six months.

Does this child have a genetic predisposition to tuberculous infection?