Leprosy: Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body weight, height; further:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Face [facies leontina (lion-like face); madarosis (loss of eyebrows and eyelashes); loosening of the anterior incisors (Möller-Christensen phenomenon); saddle nose; alopecia (hair loss)]
      • Skin [small hypopigmented spots (macules) – heal spontaneously in about 75% of cases; skin nodules (lepromas), tend to strong enlargement and ulceration (ulceration), especially on the trunk and face; disturbed sweat secretion).
      • Abdomen (abdomen)
        • Shape of the abdomen?
        • Skin color? Skin texture?
        • Efflorescences (skin changes)?
        • Pulsations? Bowel movements?
        • Visible vessels?
        • Scars? Hernias (fractures)?
      • Gait [paralysis?]
    • Auscultation (listening) of the heart and lungs.
    • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (pressure pain?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, kidney bearing knocking pain?)
  • Neurological examination [sensory deficits; autonomic innervation dysfunction].

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathologic (pathological) physical findings.