BACKGROUND: The leprosy-tuberculosis (TB) co-infection is rarely reported in recent times. However, this dual comorbidity is associated with high mortality and major morbidity. Unrecognised leprosy-TB co-infection may predispose affected patients to rifampicin monotherapy and subsequent drug resistance.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 35 year old migrant, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive male worker presented with 6 month history of symmetric infiltrative nodular plaques of the face and distal, upper extremities. A few days after initial dermatology presentation, a sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis was made at his base hospital. Subsequent dermatology investigations revealed histology confirmed lepromatous leprosy and a weakly reactive rapid plasma reagin test. The presenting clinical features and laboratory results were suggestive of lepromatous leprosy coexisting with pulmonary tuberculosis in an HIV positive patient.
CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates the occurrence of leprosy with pulmonary tuberculosis in an HIV infected patient and the difficulties in interpreting non-treponemal syphilis tests in these patients. This case also highlights the need for a high index of suspicion for co-infection and the need to exclude PTB prior to initiation of rifampicin containing multi-drug therapy (MDT). Interdisciplinary management and social support are crucial in these patients.
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