What is neuritic leprosy?
What is neuritic leprosy?
Neuritis in leprosy is usually a sub-acute, demyelinating and non-remitting event involving cutaneous nerves and larger peripheral nerve trunks. The nerves are immune protected sites due to the inherent blood-nerve barrier.
What does leprosy look like on the face?
Signs of leprosy are painless ulcers, skin lesions of hypopigmented macules (flat, pale areas of skin), and eye damage (dryness, reduced blinking). Later, large ulcerations, loss of digits, skin nodules, and facial disfigurement may develop. The infection spreads from person to person by nasal secretions or droplets.
What does neuritic mean?
inflammation in
1. an inflammation in a nerve. 2. a continuous pain in a nerve, associated with paralysis, loss of reflexes, and sensory disturbances. — neuritic, adj.
Which nerves are thickened in leprosy?
Leprosy is a common cause of neuropathy. Thickened peripheral nerves are one of the cardinal features. Ulnar and common peroneal nerves are the most frequent thickened nerves.
Does leprosy turn your skin white?
Unlike vitiligo, leprosy does not turn your skin white. However, this highly contagious disease can cause discolored lumps or sores that disfigure the skin. The first sign of leprosy is often the development of a pale or pink-colored patch on the skin. The patch may be insensitive to temperature or pain.
What does pure neuritic leprosy look like?
In pure neuritic leprosy, skin along the distribution of the affected nerve is usually hypo-anesthetic or anesthetic, and as a rule, no classical leprosy skin lesions/patches should be present.
What are the symptoms of leprosy in humans?
The main symptoms of leprosy include: The skin lesions result in decreased sensation to touch, temperature, or pain. They don’t heal, even after several weeks. They’re lighter than your normal skin tone or they may be reddened from inflammation. What does leprosy look like? How does leprosy spread?
What is the most common nerve in leprosy?
In pure neuritic leprosy, in general, upper limb nerves are more commonly involved, of which ulnar nerve is the most common. In the lower limb, lateral popliteal nerve is the most common nerve involved, followed by the posterior tibial and sural nerves.
Why is leprosy more common in Africa than India?
Although the exact reason for this is not known, it could be epidemiological, as multibacillary leprosy is more common in Africa, unlike in India where paucibacillary leprosy is more common. In pure neuritic leprosy, in general, upper limb nerves are more commonly involved, of which ulnar nerve is the most common.
