Leprosy

Question 1

leprosy is a __________disease affecting _____ and _____ tissues

Answer 1

chronic granulomatous disease affecting peripheral and superficial tissues

Question 2

where does leprosy mostly infect?

Answer 2

nasal mucosa

Question 3

how is M. leprae different from M. tuberculosis?

Answer 3

M. leprae cannot be grown on agar media or in cell culture

Question 4

hosts of M. leprae?

Answer 4

amardillos and humans

Question 5

what are the two major forms of leprosy?

Answer 5

tuberculoid and lepromatous

Question 6

how is M. leprae transmitted?

Answer 6

via small droplets from nasal secretions of lepromatous leprosy pts

Question 7

infectivity of leprosy? incubation time?

Answer 7

infectivity is low, incubation period is estimated to be 2-7 years

Question 8

what does contraction of the disease require

Answer 8

prolonged contact with an infected person

Question 9

where is leprosy common in the world?

Answer 9

India and Brazil

Question 10

describe M. leprae

Answer 10

an acid fast bacillus that likes cool temperatures.obligate intracellular parasite of primarily of macrophages and Schwann cells –> can also invade peripheral neurons

Question 11

which type of leprosy lacks Th1 mediators?

Answer 11

lepromatous

Question 12

disease of tuberculoid leprosy?

Answer 12

single skin lesions on the face, limbs, and buttocks

Question 13

number of organisms present in tuberculoid leprosy lesions? is the patient contagious?

Answer 13

low #, pt. not contagious

Question 14

prognosis of tuberculoid leprosy

Answer 14

tuberculoid lesions can heal spontaneously and prognosis is good

Question 15

how does lepromatous leprosy progress? what are the first signs of disease?

Answer 15

progressive disease with the first signs being edema, and rhinitis

Question 16

where are the lesions of lepromatous leprosy? think: FBL

Answer 16

extensive on face, buttocks, and limbs

Question 17

where on body can you observe acid-fast staining bacilli from scrapings

Answer 17

inner ear infection of lepromatous leprosy

Question 18

what type of damage can lepromatous leprosy cause?

Answer 18

SEVERE damage! perforation of the nasal septum and collapse of the nose due to cartilage loss, loss of fingers to neurotrophic atrophy, atrophy of testticles

Question 19

how does lepromatous leprosy spread?

Answer 19

reticuloendothelial system

Question 20

how is leprosy diagnosed? why?

Answer 20

clinically b/c organisms cannot be grown in culture

Question 21

how is the diagnsosis confirmed?

Answer 21

skin biopsies and the detection of acid-fast staining bacilli

Question 22

is antibiotic resistance a problem? what is done about it?

Answer 22

yes; multidrug therapy

Question 23

which drug combo can cure tuberculoid leprosy?

Answer 23

sulfone + rifampin = cure of tuberculoid leprosy w/6 mos. treatment

Question 24

tx for lepromatous form

Answer 24

clofazimine is added and tx lasts at least 2 years

Question 25

for the lepromaotus form, what can be given as prophylaxis to kids in close contact with lepromatous pts?

Answer 25

sulfones

Question 26

what is the key to prevention?

Answer 26

early diagnosis and treatment

Question 27

M. leprae is an obligate intracellular parasite of primarily of __________ and ____________ –> can also invade peripheral neurons

Answer 27

M. leprae is an obligate intracellular parasite of primarily of macrophages and Schwann cells –> can also invade peripheral neurons