What are the conventional treatments for skin tuberculosis

Cutaneous tuberculosis is a common skin disease caused by tuberculosis infection. For patients, timely treatment is necessary. First of all, they must get enough rest, increase their body nutrition in time, and improve their body's immunity. In addition, when this disease occurs, a combined method is often used for treatment, and the effect is often quite good. Isoniazid, streptomycin, vitamin D, etc. are often used for treatment.

(I) General treatment involves adequate rest, increased nutrition, and improved body resistance, while also treating concomitant diseases or intermittent infections.

(ii) Anti-tuberculosis drug treatment: This disease is mainly treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs.

1. Combination therapy

Unlike tuberculosis in other organs, there is no clinical drug resistance to isoniazid-type drugs in the treatment of skin tuberculosis. Therefore, patients with this disease without tuberculosis in other organs can be treated with isoniazid-type drugs alone, while those with tuberculosis in other organs can use combination therapy. The effect of localized type is generally better. Lupus vulgaris usually improves within 2 weeks. The ulcerative type, especially those invading the mucosa, improves faster and shrinks within 1 week. The blood-borne type has a poor therapeutic effect and is prone to relapse. Relapse is related to the duration of the disease and the total amount of treatment. Patients with short disease duration and large total amount of treatment are less likely to relapse.

2. Isoniazid

Most cutaneous tuberculosis can be effectively treated with isoniazid 100 mg 3 times a day. The lesions usually disappear in 2 to 6 months. A few patients may need more than 6 months. To consolidate the therapeutic effect and prevent recurrence, treatment should be continued for 2 months after the lesions disappear. For indurated erythema and papular necrotizing cutaneous tuberculosis, preventive treatment should be given for another 2 months in the spring and autumn to prevent recurrence.

3. Isoniazid can be used in combination with streptomycin, rifampicin, para-aminosalicylic acid, etc.

Streptomycin 1g per day, totaling 60-100g. It was previously believed that aminosalicylic acid was effective against scrofula skin tuberculosis. Adults take 8-12g per day, divided into 4 doses, for a course of 60-90 days.

4. Vitamin D is effective for lupus vulgaris

The dosage starts at 50,000 U per day, gradually increases to 100,000 U within 1 week, and then continues to 100,000 U per day for 4 to 6 months or longer. It is contraindicated for patients with active visceral tuberculosis, liver and kidney diseases, hypertension, and ulcer disease. Alternatively, ethambutol 15 mg/kg/day, orally; pyrazinamide 25 mg/kg/day, orally. These drugs have many toxic and side effects and should be used with caution.