COEXISTENCE OF LEPROSY AND PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS WITH ASPERGILLOMA AND DIABETES – AN UNCOMMON ENTITY

Abstract

Leprosy and tuberculosis (TB) are both endemic to India. Taking into account the population and size of the country, the burden of both these diseases is very high in India. The prevalence of leprosy in India is 0.68/10 000 and the prevalence of TB is estimated to be 211/100 000 population for the year 2013.India alone accounted for 6 burden in 2015 and contributes 23% to the global incident TB cases accounting to 21% of global TB-related mortality. In 2016, 6.3 million new cases of TB were reported to WHO. Also estimated ranges from 0.6 to 8 million people are affected with LEPROSY. TB is known to occur throughout the spectrum of leprosy and with some studies, in fact, suggesting an increased susceptibility to TB in patients with leprosy and a higher morbidity and mortality. Conversely, some studies suggest cross-immunity, wherein TB protects against leprosy.