Introduction:

Collagenosis and tuberculosis share similar symptoms and manifestations; and in addition, the autoimmune disorder and inmunosuppressive treatments that patients with collagenosis receive make them more vulnerable to this infection which can constitute a diagnostic dylemma.

Objective:

To contribute to a better knowledge on the relation among tuberculosis and collagenosis.

Cases presentation:

Three adolescents suffering collagenosis are presented. They were attended in the National Reference Center for Children Tuberculosis. Two of the patients had previous diagnostic of collagenosis (juvenile idiopatic arthritis and polymyositis) with steroids treatment in exacerbations or continuous since a year ago. The third patient presented a prolonged febrile syndrome with pleurisy and pericarditis, with suspicions of disseminated lupus erythematosus. Tuberculosis was diagnosed by the test of hyperergic Mantoux. The treatment was prolonged with steroids, antiturberculosis drugs and pericardiotomy at the beginning of the process, with bad evolution and failure of the treatment. All the time it was intended to rule out collagen disease. Tuberculosis was confirmed by culturing in the three patients and final evolution was satisfactorily. Characteristics of each patient were exposed and it was analyzed the relation among both diseases.

Conclusions:

Three cases that exemplify the relation among tuberculosis and collagenosis.

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