The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseasesStitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Science
The diagnostics and treatment of tropical diseases
Stitt, E. R. (Edward Rhodes)
Tropical medicine
Of the facial muscles the orbicularis palpebrarum is most apt to
show paralysis. The eyes are affected much less frequently in nerve
leprosy than nodular, 45% as against 85% for nodular leprosy. The
most common changes in nerve leprosy are ectropion of the lower lid
and subsequent corneal ulceration.
=Mixed Leprosy.=—In mixed leprosy we simply have a combination of
the manifestations of the two main types and as a matter of fact
the majority of cases tend eventually to assume a mixed type.
SYMPTOMS IN DETAIL
_Temperature Course._—On the whole leprosy runs an afebrile
course except for the accessions of irregular fever at the time
of the appearance of the successive crops of spots. This leprotic
fever lasts for a few days or a week or so and then the course
becomes afebrile. At such times sweating may be present and suggest
malaria. In the final stages of leprosy the patient may run a high
fever for long periods, associated with profuse sweating and loss
of weight.
_Skin._—The raised spots of nodular leprosy tend to come out in
numbers on lobes of ears, over eyebrows and on cheeks, as well as
backs of hands and forearms and on buttocks and feet. Soles of
feet and palms of hands almost never show spots. In nerve leprosy
the spots are often single and flat and often appear on parts
of body covered by the clothing, as trunk, thighs or arms. The
spots of leprosy are anaesthetic, often showing dissociation of
sensation. The indurated spots of nodular leprosy are succeeded by
tubercle-like growths. The hair falls out of the areas occupied by
the spots.
_Mucous Membranes._—The nasal mucosa is in particular studded with
nodules which later undergo ulceration. An ulcer of the septum is
often the first place from which leprosy bacilli may be obtained.
The pharynx and larynx are also involved early.
_Nervous System._—Besides the characteristic anaesthesia we have
various manifestations of neuritis, especially involving the ulnar,
facial and peroneal nerves. The affected nerves show a fusiform
enlargement and are tender. Later we have trophic changes in
skin, bone and nails of the fingers and toes. Absorption of bones
and perforating ulcers are common. Muscle palsies and atrophies,
especially the main-en-griffe, are common. The orbicularis
palpebrarum is not infrequently paralyzed. The olfactory, optic
and auditory nerves are rarely if ever involved. The reflexes are
slightly exaggerated.
Patients often complain of a sensation of cold. Some authorities
have called attention to the frequency of a mental and moral apathy
in lepers.
_The Circulatory System._—Honeij considers a high pulse rate,
especially in the morning, as characteristic of progressive stages
of leprosy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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