Drs Ridley and Jopling developed a classification of leprosy in 1966, which recognized 5 clinical types of infection. These correlate with the level of host immunity to the infection, ranging from intact (TT) to absent (LL).
Types of leprosy:
(1) tuberculoid (TT)
(2) borderline tuberculoid (BT)
(3) midborderline (BB)
(4) borderline-lepromatous (BL)
(5) lepromatous (LL)
|
Parameter |
tuberculoid (TT) |
borderline-tuberculoid (BT) |
midborderline (BB) |
|
number of lesions |
usually single |
single or few |
several |
|
size of lesions |
variable |
variable |
variable |
|
surface of lesions |
very dry, may be scaly |
dry |
slightly shiny |
|
sensation in nonfacial lesions |
absent |
moderately to markedly reduced |
slightly to moderately reduced |
|
heair growth in lesions |
absent |
markedly reduced |
moderately reduced |
|
AFB in lesions |
none |
none to few |
moderate numbers |
|
AFB in nasal scraping or nose blow |
none |
none |
none |
|
lepromin test |
strongly positive |
weakly positive |
negative |
|
Parameter |
borderline-lepromatous (BL) |
lepromatous (LL) |
|
number of lesions |
many |
very many |
|
size of lesions |
variable |
small |
|
surface of lesions |
shiny |
shiny |
|
sensation in nonfacial lesions |
slightly diminished |
not affected |
|
heair growth in lesions |
slightly diminished |
not affected |
|
AFB in lesions |
many |
very many, globi |
|
AFB in nasal scraping or nose blow |
usually none |
very many, globi |
|
lepromin test |
negative |
negative |
where:
• Globi are spherical bodies composed of large numbers of tightly clumped mycobacteria.
Specialty: Infectious Diseases, Dermatology
