Question

A patient with Pott's disease, tuberculosis of the spine, is more likely to have which of the following early findings?

Option 1: Back pain
Option 2: Fever
Option 3: Cough
Option 4: Joint swelling

Answer 1

The most likely early finding in a patient with Pott's disease is back pain, as it is a condition that affects the spine. Option 1: Back pain

Step-by-step explanation:

A patient with Pott's disease, which is tuberculosis of the spine, is more likely to have back pain as an early finding. Despite being a type of tuberculosis, the early symptoms of Pott's disease may not be the classic symptoms associated with pulmonary tuberculosis, such as cough, fever, or night sweats.

Instead, since Pott's disease specifically affects the spine, the earliest and most prominent symptom is often back pain due to the infection of the vertebral bodies. This pain can be localized and may worsen over time as the disease progresses.

**Option 1: Back pain** is more likely to be one of the early findings in a patient with Pott's disease, which is tuberculosis of the spine. Pott's disease often manifests with localized back pain, and it is a common symptom in the early stages. As the infection progresses, it can lead to deformities and neurological complications.

While other symptoms like fever (Option 2) and cough (Option 3) may occur, back pain is a hallmark early sign. Joint swelling (Option 4) is less likely to be an early finding in Pott's disease, as the primary involvement is in the spinal vertebrae.