Pott's disease history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hardik Patel, M.D.
Overview
The history and symptoms of Pott's disease depends upon the stage of disease, affected site, and presence of complications. Back pain is the earliest and most common symptom of Pott's disease. Other constitutional symptoms include fever, night sweating, anorexia, and weight loss.
History and Symptoms
Clinical features in spinal tuberculosis depend on the stage of infection, location and number of vertebra involved. The features include the following:
- Chronic back pain is the common presenting symptom with associated stiffness and spasm of the muscles of the back.
- Cold abscess and spine deformity presents as localized swelling on the back.
- Constitutional features of tuberculosis are present in 30% of patients, majority of the patients remain asymptomatic. The features of active disease include: malaise, loss of weight and appetite, night sweats, evening rise in temperature, generalized body aches, and fatigue.
=Neurological Symptoms
Neurological symptoms depend on the level of infection:
- Cervical level: Patients present with pain, weakness, and numbness of the upper and lower extremities. Progressive cord compression can result in tetraplegia.
- Thoracic level: Kyphosis is common in thoracic involvement,and significant cord compression can result in paraplegia.
- Lumbar or Sacral level: Compression of cauda equina can result in pain, weakness, numbness, and pain, with paraplegia.