TUBERCULOID LEPROSY Meaning and
Definition
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Tuberculoid leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, primarily affecting the skin and peripheral nerves. It is considered to be one of the two polar forms of leprosy, the other being lepromatous leprosy. Tuberculoid leprosy is characterized by a strong cell-mediated immune response against the bacterium.
In terms of clinical presentation, tuberculoid leprosy typically manifests as hypopigmented, well-defined skin lesions with altered sensation. The lesions are often solitary or few in number and may involve the face, extremities, or trunk. Nerve involvement can result in loss of sensation and muscle weakness. Reversal reaction, a phenomenon where the immune system mounts an inflammatory response against the bacteria leading to worsening of symptoms, is commonly observed.
Laboratory investigations including skin biopsy and slit-skin smear examination can aid in the diagnosis of tuberculoid leprosy. Histopathological analysis reveals well-formed granulomas comprising epithelioid cells and lymphocytes, characteristic of the immune response against the mycobacterium.
Treatment for tuberculoid leprosy involves a combination of antibiotics such as rifampicin, dapsone, and clofazimine. Appropriate management helps control the progression of the disease, prevents complications, and reduces transmission of the bacteria. With consistent treatment, tuberculoid leprosy has a more favorable prognosis compared to lepromatous leprosy and most patients achieve clinical improvement and regression of lesions. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to minimize disability and prevent complications associated with the disease.
Common Misspellings for TUBERCULOID LEPROSY
- ruberculoid leprosy
- fuberculoid leprosy
- guberculoid leprosy
- yuberculoid leprosy
- 6uberculoid leprosy
- 5uberculoid leprosy
- tyberculoid leprosy
- thberculoid leprosy
- tjberculoid leprosy
- tiberculoid leprosy
- t8berculoid leprosy
- t7berculoid leprosy
- tuverculoid leprosy
- tunerculoid leprosy
- tuherculoid leprosy
- tugerculoid leprosy
- tubwrculoid leprosy
- tubsrculoid leprosy
- tubdrculoid leprosy
Etymology of TUBERCULOID LEPROSY
The term "Tuberculoid Leprosy" derives from the combination of two words: "tuberculoid" and "leprosy".
1. Tuberculoid: The word "tuberculoid" relates to the tuberculosis-like nature of this particular form of leprosy. It stems from the word "tubercle", which refers to a small, rounded swelling or nodule, often associated with tuberculosis. The term "tubercle" itself has Latin roots, coming from the word "tuberculum", meaning a small knob or bump.
2. Leprosy: The term "leprosy" is used to describe a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin and nerves. It comes from the Greek word "lepra", meaning scale or roughness, which in turn is related to the Greek word "lepis", meaning scale.
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