Pott's disease is a type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis that affects the spine. It can cause symptoms such as joint inflammation, pain, spinal stiffness, and weakness in the legs.
It is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and usually happens when pulmonary tuberculosis is not properly treated. This can allow the bacteria to spread to other parts of the body, including the spine.
Pott’s disease should be diagnosed and treated according to a doctor’s recommendations. Treatment may include antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria and physical therapy to help keep the spine from worsening and becoming completely stiff.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of Pott's disease are:
-
Weakness in the legs.
-
Progressive pain.
-
A lump that can be felt at the lower end of the spine.
-
Difficulty moving.
-
Spinal stiffness.
-
Fever (may be present).
In more severe cases, when treatment does not work as expected, Pott's disease can progress to spinal cord compression and, as a result, paraplegia.
Confirming a diagnosis
Pott’s disease may be diagnosed by an infectious disease specialist, an orthopedist, or a primary care provider, based on the person’s signs and symptoms together with imaging and laboratory test results.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor may order imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan, and bone scan, in addition to a bone biopsy and a tuberculin (TB) skin test, also called a PPD test. According to the CDC, the TB skin test is one of the tests used to detect TB infection.
Also recommended: TB Test: What Is It, How It’s Done & Positive or Negative Result tuasaude.com/en/tb-testWhat causes Pott's disease?
Pott's disease most often happens because of the reactivation of pulmonary tuberculosis that was not properly treated.
This can allow the bacteria to remain in the body and reach the spine without causing noticeable symptoms at first.
Treatment options
Treatment for Pott's disease should be done according to medical guidance. According to the CDC, it is important to take and finish all medications exactly as recommended, even if symptoms improve.
In addition, spinal immobilization with a brace and physical therapy sessions may be recommended to help prevent complete spinal stiffness. In some cases, surgery may be needed to drain abscesses or stabilize the spine.