title: Diagnostic value of cardinal signs/symptoms in paucibacillary leprosy.
abstract: With the help of sensitivity and specificity criteria, an attempt is made to quantify the gain in certainty in diagnosis with the use of various cardinal signs/symptoms (S/s) of leprosy in order to study their predictive value in correct diagnosis of paucibacillary leprosy (PB) by the Paramedical Workers. The study was based on the findings in 326 new cases of paucibacillary leprosy detected by 10 paramedical workers during a recent field survey. Observations in the present study confirm the scientific basis of presently used combinations of cardinal S/s for correct diagnosis of leprosy especially the combination of (skin) patch with loss/impairment of sensation. The detailed observations made in the study are discussed in this communication.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Statistics, Central Leprosy Teaching and Research Institute, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sirumban
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Durai
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Neelan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests