Authors : Alpeshpuri P Goswami, Nutanbala N Goswami, Abhijit Abhijit S. Khandkar, Umeshkumar Zinzala
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijpp.2019.032
Volume : 6
Issue : 4
Year : 2019
Page No : 149-151
Introduction: Leprosy is an infectious and contagious chronic disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an obligate intracellular bacillus, that affects mainly the skin, nerves and mucous membranes. It can also affect the eye, nose, joints, lymph nodes, internal organs and bone marrow, especially in multibacillary patients (MB). In the majority of cases, it is transmitted from person to person through contact with patients having a high bacillary index and haven't been treated.
Materials and Methods: This is an observational retrospective study of 52 cases conducted in histopathology section of Pathology department, Government Medical college, Bhavnagar, Gujarat. In this study, cases were included whose biopsy samples were received in the department with clinical suspicion of leprosy. All the case diagnosed as leprosy were evaluated by Fite Faraco stain and reported for bacilloscopy index.
Results: Out of 52 cases, 40 were histomorphologically confirmed as leprosy. Maximum number of cases were observed in the age group of 31 to 40 years (47.5%). Among various anatomical site for cutaneous presentation of leprosy in maximum number of cases, the lesions were observed in upper extremity (50%). Higher number of type of leprosy observed were borderline tuberculoid leprosy (35%) followed by tuberculoid leprosy (30%). It is observed, mean bacilloscopic index is higher in cases of lepromatous leprosy whereas lower in tuberculoid leprosy.
Conclusion: In our study, borderline tuberculoid and tuberculoid cases were reported with higher incidence. Bacteriological examination and bacilloscopy index add onto the morphological diagnosis and help to categorise multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy.
Keywords: Leprosy, Bacilloscopy index, Fite Faraco.