ABSTRACT
Background: Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) accounts for about 15% to 36% of all cases of TB and its prevalence has significantly increased with the advent of the global pandemic of human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) infection. A few studies are available on the determinants of EPTB. Aims: To determine the distribution and determinants of the main locations of EPTB in the context of high endemicity for HIV infection. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among patients aged >15 years, receiving care in the pneumology service of the Yaounde Jamot Hospital, between October 2010 and December 2011. Logistic regressions were used to investigate potential determinants of different locations of EPTB. Results: Of the 788 eligible patients admitted during the study period, 100 (12.7%) had isolated EPTB, and 158 (20.1%) had both PTB and EPTB. Among 258 patients definitively included, 162 (62.8%) were men and the median age was 33 (25.75-44) years. Frequent extra-pulmonary locations of tuberculosis were lymph nodes (126 patients, 48.3%), pleura (121 patients, 46.4%) and peritoneum (25 patients, 9.6%). Using isolated pleural TB as a referent, independent determinants of isolated lymph node tuberculosis were HIV infection [odds ratio (95% CI), 2.58 (1.25-5.32)], duration of symptoms >6 weeks [2.41 (1.11-5.22)] and pulmonary involvement [2.39 (1.14-5.05)]. HIV infection [2.23 (1.06- 4.70)] and duration of symptoms >6 weeks [2.31 (1.08-4.96)] were also independent determinants of multifocal/disseminated tuberculosis. Conclusion: EPTB with or without concomitant PTB is frequent in this setting, with HIV infection being the main determinant.