JAMMU, Feb 2 (Excelsior Correspondent): Focus on Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis for Total Eradication, Says Dr. Vinay Rampal at APICON 2025
During the 80th Annual Conference of the Association of Physicians of India (APICON 2025) held in Kolkata, Dr. Vinay Rampal emphasized the significance of Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis in eradicating Tuberculosis (TB) from India. Notably described as “Phthisis” and “The White Plague,” TB has been a major infectious disease throughout human history and remains a leading cause of death worldwide, especially in the wake of the HIV pandemic, with India having a significant burden.
Despite its lower profile compared to Pulmonary Tuberculosis, Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis is crucial as it contributes to 21% to 33% of all TB cases. Dr. Rampal highlighted that Extra Pulmonary TB affects various body organs and is less familiar to many clinicians due to the complexity and subtlety of its presentation. Because it involves less accessible sites like the lymphatic system and the Genito-Urinary system, diagnosing it often requires advanced diagnostic technologies such as adenosine deaminase content assessments, IFN-gRA, and FDG-PET/CT scans—resources often unavailable even at major medical centers. In some cases, surgical intervention becomes necessary to establish a diagnosis and manage the condition.
Extra Pulmonary Tuberculosis can present in different forms, from nodular swellings known as Scrofula to silent conditions like Tuberculous Pleurisy. It can mimic other diseases, like kidney stones, leading to potentially unnecessary surgeries. Extra Pulmonary TB can manifest in the Genito-Urinary system with symptoms such as painless blood-stained urine, pelvic pain, or menstrual irregularities in females, and scrotal masses or prostatic issues in males, which adds to the diagnostic challenge.
Dr. Rampal’s insights at APICON 2025 highlight the need for enhanced awareness and diagnostic capabilities to address Extra Pulmonary TB for a comprehensive approach to TB eradication in India.
Original Source: https://www.dailyexcelsior.com/dr-rampal-delivers-lecture-at-apicon-2025/
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Publish Date: 2025-02-03 05:44:00
