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
_The Eye._—In nodular leprosy eye lesions, chiefly leprotic
nodules in conjunctivae or iris, with subsequent ulceration, are
met with at some time in the course of the disease in almost 90%
of cases. In nerve leprosy, corneal ulcerations, chiefly resulting
from paralyses of the facial muscles, with ectropion, give eye
symptoms in about 45% of cases.
_Genito-urinary Symptoms._—Atrophy of the testicles with increase
of connective tissue often result in males but data would indicate
that the procreative power of the female is but little diminished.
Lepers often die of renal complications, the kidney lesions being
rather those of amyloid change. Bacilli may be eliminated in the
urine during accessions of fever.
_The Lymphatic Glands._—These tend to enlarge and show bacilli,
but rarely suppurate.
The inguinal and cervical glands are most often enlarged.
_The Blood._—The changes, other than those of a secondary anaemia
as the disease progresses, are not characteristic. Bacilli are
present in the blood of cases of nodular leprosy quite constantly
but less so in that of cases of nerve leprosy. The bacilli are more
apt to be found in the blood at the time of febrile accessions.
DIAGNOSIS
=Clinical Diagnosis.=—It must be remembered that leprosy is very
slow in development, so that for months or even years there may be
but slight indications of the disease, as an anaesthetic spot or the
palsy of an orbicularis palpebrarum. One should always run over the
lobes of the ears or region of the eyebrows to feel for shot-like
nodules.
In the making of a diagnosis the information as to possible exposure
to the disease is of first importance.
The leprous spots are at first rather oily from increased action
of the sebaceous glands but subsequently become dry. In ancient
times the hypersecretion of sebaceous material about the facial
spots of nodular leprosy served as the basis of a test for leprosy,
the suspected eruption being dashed with water. If the surface was
not wetted it was a point in favor of leprosy. Of prime importance
however is the pin prick for anaesthesia, which is the most
important distinguishing characteristic, next to the finding of
the bacilli, for a leprous spot. The anaesthesia is more marked
in the center of the spot and may show dissociation of sensation.
It is very important to examine for enlargement of the ulnar or
great auricular and the earliest signs of a nerve leprosy may be
anaesthesia and a slight contraction of the ring and little finger.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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