What are the two types of leprosy?
Daniel Lopez
Updated on March 01, 2026
Leprosy has traditionally been classified into two major types,
tuberculoid
Tuberculoid leprosy is a form of leprosy characterized by solitary skin lesions that are asymmetrically distributed with few lesions and well demarcated edges. There is also early and marked nerve damage.
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lepromatous
Lepromatous leprosy is a form of leprosy characterized by pale macules in the skin. It results from the failure of Th1 cell activation which is necessary to eradicate the mycobacteria (Th1 response is required to activate macrophages that engulf and contain the disease).
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What are the 3 types of leprosy?
The first system recognizes three types of Hansen's disease: tuberculoid, lepromatous, and borderline. A person's immune response to the disease determines which of these types of Hansen's disease they have: In tuberculoid Hansen's disease, the immune response is good.What is the most common type of leprosy?
Borderline, or dimorphous, Hansen's disease is the most common form. When compared to tuberculoid or lepromatous forms, it is of intermediate severity. The skin lesions seem to be of the tuberculoid type, but are more numerous, and may be found anywhere on the body.What is Paucibacillary and Multibacillary leprosy?
Paucibacillary leprosy: 2 to 5 patches or lesions on the skin. Multibacillary leprosy: >5 patches or lesions on the skin. Recommended types of surveillance. Individual patient records at peripheral level for investigation and case-management.What are the 4 types of leprosy?
There are six types of leprosy and are mainly classified based on the severity of symptoms, which include- Intermediate, Tuberculoid, Borderline tuberculoid, Mid-borderline, Borderline and Lepromatous leprosy.Types of Leprosy: Lepromatous and Tuberculoid
What are the 3 main symptoms of leprosy?
The three main symptoms of leprosy include:
- Skin patches which may be red or have a loss of pigmentation.
- Skin patches with diminished or absent sensations.
- Numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, arms and legs.
- Painless wounds or burns on the hands and feet.
- Muscle weakness.
What are the classification of leprosy?
Leprosy has traditionally been classified into two major types, tuberculoid and lepromatous. Patients with tuberculoid leprosy have limited disease and relatively few bacteria in the skin and nerves, while lepromatous patients have widespread disease and large numbers of bacteria.How can you distinguish between Multibacillary and Paucibacillary leprosy?
Paucibacillary patients are those who are skin smear negative and show no evidence of more advanced disease on biopsy. Multibacillary patients are those who are skin smear positive and/or have a biopsy indicating more advanced disease.What is lepromatous leprosy?
LL is a systemic disease that occurs in patients with poor cell-mediated immunity toM. leprae, but with higher levels of antibodies. The cutaneous lesions are multiple, symmetrical, and may affect the whole skin, giving a sclerodermatous appearance (diffuse or Lucio-type leprosy).What is tuberculoid leprosy?
Tuberculoid. A mild, less severe form of leprosy. People with this type have only one or a few patches of flat, pale-colored skin (paucibacillary leprosy). The affected area of skin may feel numb because of nerve damage underneath. Tuberculoid leprosy is less contagious than other forms.What is leprosy called now?
Hansen's disease (also known as leprosy) is an infection caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. It can affect the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose (nasal mucosa). With early diagnosis and treatment, the disease can be cured.Who is most at risk for leprosy?
Leprosy can develop at any age but appears to develop most often in people aged 5 to 15 years or over 30. It is estimated that more than 95% of people who are infected with Mycobacterium leprae do not develop leprosy because their immune system fights off the infection.Which nerve is most commonly affected in leprosy?
Mononeuritis is the most common presentation of leprosy, and the nerves in the upper limbs are more often affected than those of the lower. The most commonly involved nerves are the ulnar, median, posterior auricular, superficial radial, common fibular, superficial fibular and posterior tibial 4.What are the two symptoms of leprosy?
Depending on the type of leprosy, symptoms may include:
- Skin sores or lesions that do not heal after several months (lesions are flat or slightly elevated and light in color or slightly red)
- Skin lumps and bumps that can be disfiguring.
- Numbness of the skin because of damage to the nerves under the skin.
- Muscle weakness.
How did people get leprosy?
Leprosy is likely transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases. Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.How did leprosy start?
The disease seems to have originated in Eastern Africa or the Near East and spread with successive human migrations. Europeans or North Africans introduced leprosy into West Africa and the Americas within the past 500 years.What is Histoid leprosy?
Histoid leprosy is rare type of lepromatous leprosy characterized by unique clinical, histopathological, and microbiological features. It is characterized by cutaneous and subcutaneous nodules. Histoid leprosy cases represent probable resistant bacilli and a highly active lepromatous process.What are macules?
A macule is a flat, distinct, discolored area of skin. It usually does not include a change in skin texture or thickness.What is mid borderline leprosy?
Mid borderline leprosy (BB) is an unstable form representing the immunologic midpoint in the clinical spectrum. Case report: Here, we report a case of BB leprosy having classical inverted saucer-shaped lesions elsewhere on the body with a linear psoriasiform lesion over the left forearm following the lines of Blaschko.What is polar forms of leprosy?
Leprosy and American cutaneous leishmaniasis are tropical diseases which present a spectrum of clinical and immunological manifestations. Lepromatous leprosy and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis are the severe, progressive polar forms of disease characterized by persistent T cell anergy.What are the two clinical presentations of Mycobacterium leprae infections?
Type 1 (reversal) - Sudden onset of skin redness and new lesions. Type 2 (erythema nodosum leprosum [ENL]; as seen in the image below) - Many skin nodules, fever, redness of eyes, muscle pain, and joint pain (seen in lepromatous leprosy only)What is Lucio phenomenon?
Lucio phenomenon (LP) is a rare reactional state seen in cases of diffuse lepromatous leprosy. Lucio leprosy is a pure, primitive, and diffuse form of lepromatous leprosy. It is observed almost exclusively in Mexico and Central America and is considered a globally restricted phenomenon.Where is leprosy most common?
Where is leprosy found in the world today? The countries with the highest number of new leprosy diagnoses every year are India, Brazil, and Indonesia. More than half of all new cases of leprosy are diagnosed in India. In 2018 120,334 - or 57 per cent - of new cases of leprosy were found there.What are the cardinal signs of leprosy?
Signs and Symptoms
- Discolored patches of skin, usually flat, that may be numb and look faded (lighter than the skin around)
- Growths (nodules) on the skin.
- Thick, stiff or dry skin.
- Painless ulcers on the soles of feet.
- Painless swelling or lumps on the face or earlobes.
- Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes.