ABSTRACT
22 Cases of bacillary positive leprosy with no apparent lesion in the oral cavity, soft or hard palate were studied for any evidence of pathological involvement. Granulomata were present in 11 (65%) out of 17 cheek biopsies studied. M. leprae were identified in four specimens only. 9 specimens (64%) out of 14 palate biopsies showed definite granulomata. M. leprae were seen in six specimens.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Biopsy , Cheek/microbiology , Female , Granuloma/microbiology , Humans , Leprosy, Borderline/microbiology , Leprosy, Lepromatous/microbiology , Male , Middle Aged , Mycobacterium leprae/isolation & purification , Palate/microbiologyABSTRACT
25 cases of bacillary positive leprosy patients and 25 age and sex matched controls were investigated for assessment of cochleo-vestibular status. Impaired hearing was complained of by 4 patients. None had tinnitus, dizziness or vertigo. On testing 44% patients were found to have unilateral or bilateral perceptive deafness. Specialised tests of hearing indicated that the deafness was of cochlear type. The vestibular functions were not affected. Leprosy seems to selectively involve the cochlea.