ABSTRACT
Involvement of cranial nerves is not uncommon in leprosy with trigeminal and facial nerves being commonly affected. Other cranial nerves can also be involved especially in longstanding cases of leprosy towards the lepromatous pole. Herein, we report a case of leprosy with multiple cranial neuropathy mimicking Melkerson Rosenthal syndrome.
Subject(s)
Cranial Nerve Diseases/etiology , Cranial Nerve Diseases/physiopathology , Leprosy/complications , Leprosy/diagnosis , Melkersson-Rosenthal Syndrome/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Cranial Nerve Diseases/drug therapy , Cranial Nerve Diseases/pathology , Diagnosis, Differential , Facial Nerve/physiopathology , Glossopharyngeal Nerve/physiopathology , Humans , Leprosy/classification , Leprosy/drug therapy , Male , Middle Aged , Treatment Outcome , Trigeminal Nerve/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Lagophthalmos is one of the well known complications of leprosy due to involvement of the facial nerve. Herein, we report three cases of bilateral lagophthalmos due to leprosy which presented to us within a span of just three months. In all these cases, lagophthalmos was not the presenting complaint and it was detected by the treating doctor during examination. This report is being presented to highlight the importance of cranial nerve examination in all cases of leprosy as at times early changes of lagophthalmos may go unnoticed by the patient.