Leprosy is a contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affecting the skin, mucous membranes, and peripheral nerves, and can also involve deep tissues and organs. Mycobacterium leprae mainly enters the human body through broken skin and mucous membranes. This disease is not congenital nor hereditary.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

Leprosy most commonly occurs in the nasal region. Sometimes, before systemic symptoms appear, a large number of leprosy bacilli can be found in smears of nasal secretions, indicating extremely high pestilence. Pharyngeal leprosy is relatively rare and is mostly caused by the downward spread of nasal nodular leprosy. Except for the acute edema of the pharyngeal mucosa in the initial stage [first stage], it generally presents as nodular infiltration, with dry and atrophic mucosa. Nodular infiltration can occur in areas such as the uvula, hard palate, soft palate, palatine arches, and tonsils. The defects and scars caused by lesion destruction often appear radial. Patients experience a loss of the pharyngeal reflex and open nasal speech but do not feel pain.

Invasion of the great auricular nerve can lead to thickening and enlargement. The facial nerve may develop spasms due to lesion invasion and stimulation, or peripheral deviation of the mouth may occur due to lesion compression. The simultaneous presence of spasms and deviation of the mouth is a characteristic feature of leprosy-related deviation of the mouth.

bubble_chart Diagnosis

Based on the history of leprosy exposure, a chronic sexually transmitted disease course, damage to the skin, mucous membranes, and peripheral nerves, and the presence of leprosy bacilli in secretions or biopsy samples from the affected areas, a diagnosis can be confirmed. Advanced-stage leprosy must be differentiated from subcutaneous nodules and syphilis.

Systemic anti-leprosy treatment is the main approach. Local symptomatic management.