(LML) The Diagnosis of Leprosy

Leprosy Mailing List – April 12 ,  2016

Ref.:   (LML) The Diagnosis of Leprosy

From:  Grace Warren, Sidney, Australia

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Dear Pieter,

I have been interested following all the suggestions re  upcoming conference,  and the variations in statistics - partly  achieved by literally applying  the WHO definition as it appears many years ago.,  The Indian statistics of the numbers of children especially who have leprosy but it is not officially recognised so their official statistics look very good.

However, many times I have written about the numbers who never do have an anaesethetic patch as so many East Asian patients have infiltrated skin but no definite patch and no loss of pain sensation yet in the old days we could do slit skin smears that confirmed the diagnosis.   Now very few out clinics have the knowledge and ability to do the slit skin smears.

But I feel more and more that one very big problem that I am sure WHO could do something about is the teaching of leprosy in Medical Colleges.,

One year I lectured in all the medical colleges in one of the big countries accepted as being endemic. I was informed in most, that it was the first time that that college had had a lecture on leprosy!!!!!  What we do not know we never see and what we need is to ensure that the possibility of leprosy comes to the mind of doctors treating , especially children in endemic countries. Lepromatous leprosy is so easy hidden in the early days when it is easily passed on to the children.   After one lecture to the medical Practitioners the Chairman who happened to be the head of the local group said “Thank you for that. I hate to think how many I have missed over the years!” What a confession - but many doctors in these countries have no thought of leprosy as a diagnosis as they have not been taught to consider it !.

I do hope the teaching will become more widespread - and if  the definition could be varied, that could help. This letter  from Ben gives a few minor variations - but  we really need a few more possibilities to make people think  of Leprosy as a possible diagnosis.

 

Best regards,

 

Grace  Warren.  (Previously advisor for the leprosy Mission in Asia 1975-1995)

 

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LML - S Deepak, B Naafs, S Noto and P Schreuder

LML blog link: http://leprosymailinglist.blogspot.it/

Contact: Dr Pieter Schreuder << editorlml@gmail.com

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