title: Neurological manifestations of Hansen's disease and their management.
abstract: Hansen's disease is almost eliminated from developed countries but in developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America leprosy is still considered to be a public health problem. Mycobacterium leprae have the affinity for peripheral nerves and neuropathy is a cardinal manifestation of the disease. The nerve damage affects sensory, motor, and autonomic fibers resulting in the physical impairments and limitation of physical activities and social participation. Leprosy is a curable disease and treatment provided in the early stages will avert the disabilities. Approach to the neuritic leprosy depends on its clinical characteristics, nerve biopsy, and histological appearance of dermatological and neurological lesions. In this article we review the literature and discuss the pathology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of neurological manifestations of leprosy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Deralakatte-575018, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. dramit_in@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agrawal
authors.forename: Lekha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pandit
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalal
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Shetty
mesh_terms: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000187:drug effects; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012867:Skin / Q000294:innervation
chemical_list: D001428:Bacterial Vaccines; D007917:Leprostatic Agents; C060596:anti-leprosy vaccine