Vulvar Tuberculosis

Vulvar TB is very rare, occasionally secondary to severe pulmonary, gastrointestinal, pleuroperitoneal, or internal genital TB. Patients often have no typical symptoms, requiring auxiliary diagnostic methods for confirmation and differential diagnosis.

Common Symptoms

Papule; chronic ulcer; Yue Han; nodule; severe pain; perineal ulcer; dyspareunia

Causes and Pathogenesis

Vulvar TB usually arises from internal genital or renal TB, or via external contact (sputum, intercourse) causing primary vulvar TB; a few have no identifiable primary focus. Children are infected via parents. Bacilli reach the vulva hematogenously, lymphatically, or by direct spread; active visceral TB with low host resistance allows inoculation through skin/mucosal breaks. Pathology shows macrophages and caseous necrosis; acid-fast bacilli appear on smear/culture. Bacilli are aerobic with high nutritional needs, dividing every 18-24 h (vs 20 min for common bacteria). Human type first infects lungs; bovine type first infects the gut, then disseminates including to the vulva. Inguinal nodes may suppurate and scar; sexually transmitted lesions from a spouse with epididymal/renal TB often occur at the frenulum. Severity relates to host resistance, allergy, and inoculum virulence.

Treatment

Drug therapy, supportive therapy

Preventive Measures

Early vaccination, exercise, and building resistance to prevent tuberculous infection.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Gynecology department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.