Abstract

Tuberculosis is a very common disease which may present in an atypical and uncommon form. It needs careful analysis and examination, specially when there is atypical presentation like erythema nodosum. Erythema nodosum is an inflammatory disease of skin and subcutaneous tissues presenting as ill defined acute erythematous painful nodules usually on extensor aspect of lower legs. Majority of patients are females. A careful thorough clinical and laboratory investigations in patients with erythema nodosum is required to detect a possible systemic underlying condition. We report a case series of three patients who presented with erythema nodosum as the sole presentation of tuberculosis. The diagnosis was confirmed on histopathological examination of skin biopsy which showed septal panniculitis and chronic dermal inflammation. All the three patients responded well to treatment with anti- tubercular drugs.