Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and leprosy are of public health importance, as all three diseases are communicable and contribute to disease burden in society. Coinfection with these three entities is extremely rare but leads to significant mortality and morbidity. We report a case that highlights the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic management of a patient who was diagnosed with pure neuritic leprosy on multibacillary-multidrug therapy (MB-MDT) and subsequently codiagnosed with PTB and HIV. The patient was started on anti-tubercular therapy and anti-retroviral therapy for treatment under India’s national health programs, which play a major role in treating those of low socioeconomic status. The optimization of these therapeutic drugs is quite challenging during treatment due to potential drug interactions and toxicities. High clinical suspicion is required to rule out PTB before initiating rifampicin-containing MB-MDT, which can lead to rifampicin-resistant TB and screening for HIV. As there is a social stigma associated with these patients, they require good psychological support during and after treatment.
BT - Cureus DO - 10.7759/cureus.66105 LA - ENG M3 - Case report N2 -Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and leprosy are of public health importance, as all three diseases are communicable and contribute to disease burden in society. Coinfection with these three entities is extremely rare but leads to significant mortality and morbidity. We report a case that highlights the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic management of a patient who was diagnosed with pure neuritic leprosy on multibacillary-multidrug therapy (MB-MDT) and subsequently codiagnosed with PTB and HIV. The patient was started on anti-tubercular therapy and anti-retroviral therapy for treatment under India’s national health programs, which play a major role in treating those of low socioeconomic status. The optimization of these therapeutic drugs is quite challenging during treatment due to potential drug interactions and toxicities. High clinical suspicion is required to rule out PTB before initiating rifampicin-containing MB-MDT, which can lead to rifampicin-resistant TB and screening for HIV. As there is a social stigma associated with these patients, they require good psychological support during and after treatment.
PB - Springer Science and Business Media LLC PY - 2024 SP - 1 EP - 5 T2 - Cureus TI - Triple Infectious Syndrome: Pulmonary Tuberculosis and HIV in a Case of Pure Neuritic Leprosy With Underlying Diabetes Mellitus UR - https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/case_report/pdf/271946/20240805-142632-z60mxq.pdf SN - 2168-8184 ER -