What is tuberculoid leprosy?

tuberculoid leprosy is a chronic bacterial infection that occurs worldwide. This infectious disease is caused by bacteria mycobacterium leprae . Bacteria cause lesions to appear on the skin, mucous membranes or testicles. Eyes can also be affected by peripheral nerves such as hands and legs. Antibiotics are effective against causal bacteria and this type of leprosy can be cured with appropriate treatment. Tuberculoid leprosy is characterized by the occurrence of very few lesions and minimal bacteria. Lepromatous leprosy may be a widespread infection including many lesions containing large amounts of bacteria. Border leprosy is not a type of leprosy, but is a class between the two types of leprosy. Patients with borderline leprosy have more lesions than what is classified as a tuberculoid, but less than more serious sticky leprosy.

The most dist.Touch. They can be flat or slightly raised and are usually darker than the surrounding skin. In order to be classified as tuberculoid leprosy, less than five lesions must be present. If there are five or more lesions, leprosy is classified as borderline or sticky. The secondary symptom, peripheral nerve involvement causes progressive anesthesia of hands, legs and sometimes faces.

Clinical presentation is the main diagnostic criteria in determining tuberculoid leprosy. The physician examines the patient on the lesion and records the size, color and number of lesions present. The peripheral nerve areas are controlled in terms of weakness or dullness. The definitive diagnosis is then made by painting the lesion and obtaining fluid for the paint. Unlike lepromatous, the fluid from tuberculoid lesions does not contain mycobacterium leprae bacteria.

untreated, tuberculoid smallThe influence can solve or proceed in itself into a more serious form. Long -term infection can cause permanent damage and disfigurement. Standard treatment is a six -month rifampin and Dapson course. If only one lesion is present, the patient is treated with a single combined dose of rifampin, olixacin and minocyclin. Patients are considered non -infectious shortly after the start of antibiotic treatment.

is closed by exposing the nasal secretions of infected persons. Before the discovery of antibiotics, infected people were often isolated in lepers colonies. Some lepers are still existed, especially in areas where treatment is not easily available, but most patients with leprosy can live normal lives after antibiotic treatment.