Histopathological Study of Different Clinical Types of Leprosy

Abstract

Leprosy or Hansen’s disease is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily and predominantly affecting peripheral nerves and secondarily affecting various organs in the body including Skin. It presents as many different forms. In this study, we tried to determine the prevalence of each type of Hansen’s in our population. Aim: To study the histopathological features of different clinical types of leprosy. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross sectional study which included 20 patients who have presented to our OPD with Leprosy. A skin smear examination and biopsy were taken to identify the form of leprosy and observations tabulated. Results: This study showed male predominance of 70%. It had shown that the borderline tuberculoid is the commonest followed by borderline lepromatous. Typical tuberculoid seems to be the rarest form in this study. Conclusion: In this study, it is concluded that different types of leprosy have its characteristic histopathological features. The commonest type of leprosy in this study is Borderline tuberculoid leprosy.