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Abstract

Pott's disease (PD) or spinal tuberculosis is a rare condition which accounts for less than 1% of total tuberculosis (TB) cases and despite a progressive decline in the number of the cases of tuberculosis all over the world, still remains a significant cause of morbidity in this patients. We present the clinical case of a 79 year-old female that was admitted to our Internal Medicine Service to study a fever of unknown origin. Despite the extensive study realized, no focalization on infectious, neoplastic, inflammatory or lymphoproliferative etiologies was found and the patient was discharged for maintenance the study in external consult. 3 weeks later and with persistent complaints of low back pain, a CT scan of the column showed showed extensive process of spondylodiscitis with vertebral abscess. An abscess puncture was performed and microbiology cultures confirmed the diagnosis of TB. This case highligths the importance of early recognition of Pott´s disease, a rare and serious manifestation of TB infection,and its recognition helps to prevent permanent neurological sequelae and other phisycal damage.