Relative efficacy of commonly used clinical and laboratory methods for the diagnosis of leprosy
AS Prasad
Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology, Rajendra Medical College Hospital, Ranchi-834009
Correspondence Address:
AS Prasad Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprology, Rajendra Medical College Hospital, Ranchi-834009
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
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ABSTRACT: 60 suspected cases of leprosy were studied. 12 case were bacteriologically positive. The remaining 48 cases were studied to evaluate the relative efficacy of commonly used clinical and laboratory methods of diagnosis. Diminution of sensation is the best criterion and results are comparable to the histopathological findings. Its limitations are the unpredictable information's received in cases of children and mentally retarded patients. Sweat test which was modified by the author and the histamine flare test were found to be very effective with 95 percent accuracy
