Urogenital tuberculosis is a form of

tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, i ...

that affects the

urogenital system The genitourinary system, or urogenital system, are the organs of the reproductive system and the urinary system. These are grouped together because of their proximity to each other, their common embryological origin and the use of common pathw ...

Symptoms

*Persistent

cystitis A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that affects part of the urinary tract. When it affects the lower urinary tract it is known as a bladder infection (cystitis) and when it affects the upper urinary tract it is known as a kidney ...

, unresponsive to antibiotics. *Urinary frequency *

Dysuria Dysuria refers to painful or uncomfortable urination. It is one of a constellation of ''irritative'' bladder symptoms (also sometimes referred to as lower urinary tract symptoms), which includes nocturia and urinary frequency. Diagnosis The c ...

*Loin discomfort *Malaise and general symptoms of

*Ulcer However, the infection arises insidiously, being potentially asymptomatic for a long period of time.

Other signs

* Pus cells and

red cells Red blood cells (RBCs), also referred to as red cells, red blood corpuscles (in humans or other animals not having nucleus in red blood cells), haematids, erythroid cells or erythrocytes (from Greek ''erythros'' for "red" and ''kytos'' for "holl ...

in the urine, but no bacterial growth on routine

bacterial culture A microbiological culture, or microbial culture, is a method of multiplying microbial organisms by letting them reproduce in predetermined culture medium under controlled laboratory conditions. Microbial cultures are foundational and basic diagn ...

*Painless intermittent microscopic

haematuria Hematuria or haematuria is defined as the presence of blood or red blood cells in the urine. “Gross hematuria” occurs when urine appears red, brown, or tea-colored due to the presence of blood. Hematuria may also be subtle and only detectable w ...

*A painless, non-tender, irregular, and sometimes fluctuating mass on one side of the

scrotum The scrotum or scrotal sac is an anatomical male reproductive structure located at the base of the penis that consists of a suspended dual-chambered sac of skin and smooth muscle. It is present in most terrestrial male mammals. The scrotum co ...

Complications

Urogenital tuberculosis may cause strictures of the ureter, which, however, may heal when infection is treated.

Pathogenesis

The infection may affect the kidneys, ureter and bladder and may cause significant damage to each.

Epidemiology

It usually strikes young adults with tuberculosis in other places of the body as well. It is common in Asia, but less common in sub-Saharan Africa.Primary Surgery: Volume One: Non-trauma. Chapter 16. The surgery of tuberculosis
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

References

{{Gram-positive actinobacteria diseases Bacterial diseases