Pott's disease risk factors

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hardik Patel, M.D.; Aravind Kuchkuntla, M.B.B.S[2]

Risk factors predisposing patients to develop spinal tuberculosis are same as the risk factors which predispose patients to develop pulmonary tuberculosis.

Risk factors predisposing patients to develop spinal tuberculosis are same as the risk factors which predispose patients to develop pulmonary tuberculosis. The following is a list of risk factors which increase the risk of developing spinal tuberculosis infection:^[1]

• Poverty
• Overcrowding
• Illiteracy
• Malnutrition
• Alcoholism
• Drug abuse
• Diabetes mellitus
• Immunosuppressive treatment
• HIV infection
• Older age
• Male gender
• Longterm peritoneal dialysis
• Prison imprisonment

Patients at high risk for developing TB and subsequently Pott’s disease are divided into two categories:

1. Patients with recent tuberculosis infection:
   • Close contacts of a person with infectious TB disease.
   • Persons who have immigrated from areas of the world with high rates of TB.
   • Children less than 5 years of age who have a positive TB test.
   • Groups with high rates of TB transmission, such as homeless persons, injection drug users, and persons with HIV infection
   • Persons who work or reside with people who are at high risk for TB in facilities or institutions such as hospitals, homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and residential homes for those with HIV.
2. Patients with medical conditions associated with weakening of the immune system:
   • Babies and young children often have weak immune systems.
   • HIV infection (the virus that causes AIDS)
   • Substance abuse
   • Silicosis
   • Diabetes mellitus
   • Severe kidney disease
   • Low body weight
   • Organ transplants
   • Head and neck cancer
   • Medical treatments such as corticosteroids or organ transplant
   • Specialized treatment for rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn’s disease

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