Leprosy (Hansen's disease): diagnostic criteria

  ' SAP '

• Skin lesions: hypopigmented/ erythematous, anaesthetic/ hypoesthetic lesions with epidermal atrophy
• Acid fast bacilli, AFB: can be demonstrated in skin smear or biopsy
• Peripheral nerve involvement: thickening, sensory impairment and motor weakness

Did you know?

Very often, small lesions of leprosy on face do not show sensory deficit due to rich innervation and overlap of sensory supply.

Motor deficits commonly in the form of claw hand (ulnar and median nerve), claw foot (posteror tibial nerve) and foot drop (deep peroneal nerve) are more pronounced in the tuberculoid form of leprosy.