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Is TB Arthritis Associated With HIV?

Posted on Wed, 28 Dec 2016

Question: Hello Doctor,

One of my finger had swelling and was paining from last 1 Month. My doctor is suspecting it could be due to Tuberculosis of finger joint. I was going through the internet and saw some link between HIV and finger Tuberculosis. Does this mean that a person will have HIV for sure if he has tuberculosis of finger joint? Please advice.

Thanks,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (18 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Get X-ray

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Thank you for posting the question.

Tuberculosis of finger joint,itself is a very rare entity. 1 in 10,000 people get it.

Any swelling of finger cannot be tuberculosis. You need to have fever,weight loss,anorexia etc along with the swelling.

Such swellings can be due to osteomyelitis,soft tissue abscess etc.

Get X ray of the finger and get complete blood count done to rule out tuberculosis.

Even if Tuberculosis is confirmed,its not necessary that HIV has to be accompanied with it.

Tuberculosis is a chronic inflammatory disease and can affect even non-HIV affected people.

Any type of tuberculosis is 100 % curable and you need not worry about it.

I hope the answer was useful.

Feel free to ask me any further doubts that you may have.

Thanks.

Kind regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Mahaveer Patil (25 hours later)

Hello Doctor,

Thanks for the advice.
I had the XRay and Blood test completed couple of days back.
Just to discuss if you will be able to review the reports. I have attached the reports for your review.

Thanks,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (13 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Definitely not tubeculosis

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

I have gone through the attached reports.
Good news is that there are absolutely no signs of tubeculosis in any of the reports.Even the X ray shows nothing significant.

Seronegative arthropathy seems to be more likely. In this kind of arthropathy,all blood tests come negative.

I suggest you to take anti-inflammatory tablets and keep the finger strapped for 15 days.
This should get the swelling down.

Thank you.

Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy

Follow up: Dr. Mahaveer Patil (2 days later)

Hello Doctor,

Thanks for the advice.

I will take Anti-Inflammatory tablets. However, I have one last query. I have got the MRI done for the finger yesterday. Just wanted to check with you if the MRI also points to Seronegative arthropathy (Attached MRI Report).

Thanks,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Seems to be a traumatic lesion

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

I have gone through the MRI report.

It says that one of the ligaments at that joint is "torn".
Ligaments can tear only if you have had a history of injury.

I do not remember you mentioning anything about history of trauma.

Do you remember getting injured recently?

MRI reports do not show any signs of Tuberculosis or Seronegative arthropathy.

Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng

Follow up: Dr. Mahaveer Patil (31 hours later)

Hello Doctor,

Thanks for the advice.
I don't remember of any injury recently caused to the finger.
So, should I take any Medicine to cure in this case?

Thanks,
XXXX

Answered by Dr. Mahaveer Patil (47 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Query answered

Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX

You can take anti inflammatory tablets like paracetamol,ibupfofen etc.
Fibrinolytic medicines like serratiopeptidase,trypsin,chymotrypsin will help reduce the swelling.

Thanks.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Veerisetty Shyamkumar