Approach to nasal tuberculosis in the outpatient setting: management and perspectives

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the management of nasal tuberculosis in an outpatient setting, with the aim of understanding current practices and identifying new perspectives for the treatment and follow-up of this condition. Tuberculosis is an infectious and globally prevalent disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in which it typically presents with pulmonary manifestations, however, the incidence of cases with nasal involvement has aroused the interest of the medical community due to its diagnostic and therapeutic implications. In this context, the article focuses on the importance of early recognition and appropriate treatment of nasal tuberculosis, emphasizing the relevance of this approach in the outpatient setting, where most patients have their first contact with the health system. The methodology adopted consists of a literature review, in which scientific articles, case studies, and literature reviews published in the last ten years in reliable databases were selected and analyzed, allowing an up-to-date compilation of available information on nasal tuberculosis, covering aspects such as epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic options. The results obtained from this review show that, although nasal tuberculosis is a less common form of the disease, its proper detection and management are essential to avoid complications and the spread of infection. It has been observed that the clinical manifestations of nasal tuberculosis are varied, which may lead to delays in diagnosis. In addition, the importance of specific diagnostic methods for this manifestation of the disease was highlighted, including imaging techniques and microbiological analyses. Regarding treatment, the studies analyzed point to the efficacy of the standard therapeutic regimen for tuberculosis, with adaptations according to the severity and specificities of each case.