A persistent and progressive form of cutaneous tuberculosis, sometimes referred to as Lupus Vulgaris, presents with distinct and long-lasting skin manifestations.
Key skin features observed in this condition include:
- Initial Appearance: Small, sharply defined reddish-brown papules.
- Progression: These papules tend to merge together, forming larger plaques.
- Consistency: The lesions have a characteristic gelatinous consistency. When pressed with a glass slide (diascopy), they often reveal a brownish-yellow or apple-jelly colouration due to changes in blood flow and tissue composition. This appearance gives rise to the descriptive term "apple-jelly nodules".
- Duration: The lesions are persistent and can remain on the skin for many years.
- Long-Term Impact: Due to their persistence and progression, these lesions can lead to significant disfigurement of the affected areas. In some instances, chronic irritation and changes within the lesions may also predispose individuals to the development of skin cancer within the affected site.
These features highlight the chronic and potentially severe nature of this specific type of skin involvement in tuberculosis.
