According to Salvatore and Enrico (2008), leprosy can be classified on the basis of clinical manifestation and the
skin smear result. In the classification of leprosy based on skin smears, the
following are evolved.
skin smear result. In the classification of leprosy based on skin smears, the
following are evolved.
v
Individuals showing negative smears at one sites are grouped as
paucibacillary leprosy (PB)
Individuals showing negative smears at one sites are grouped as
paucibacillary leprosy (PB)
v
People showing positive smears at all sites are grouped as having
multi-bacillary leprosy (MB).
People showing positive smears at all sites are grouped as having
multi-bacillary leprosy (MB).
However
in practice most programmes use clinical criteria for classifying and deciding
the appropriate management regimen for individuals, particularly in view of the
non-availability of non-dependability of the skin-smear services. The clinical
classification for the purpose of management includes the use of number of skin
lesions and nerves involved as the basis for grouping leprosy in
multi-bacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB) leprosy (Kaduna State Ministry of Health, 2007).
in practice most programmes use clinical criteria for classifying and deciding
the appropriate management regimen for individuals, particularly in view of the
non-availability of non-dependability of the skin-smear services. The clinical
classification for the purpose of management includes the use of number of skin
lesions and nerves involved as the basis for grouping leprosy in
multi-bacillary (MB) and paucibacillary (PB) leprosy (Kaduna State Ministry of Health, 2007).
According
to Fidelis (2006) while classifying leprosy, it is particularly important to
ensure that individuals with multibacillary disease do not use the regimen for
the paucibacillary form of the disease. In the light skin explained that
leprosy can be present with different clinical signs. The resistance of
individuals varies from very strong to nil, with all possible grades in
between. Thus leprosy can be characterized by high resistance and low number of
bacilli (tuberculoid leprosy); between and very low resistance and high number
of bacilli (lepromatous leprosy). He further explained that between these two
ends of the spectrum, there is decrease in resistance and increase in the
number of bacilli in the body giving rise to borderline tuberculoid and borderline
lepromatous kinds of leprosy.
to Fidelis (2006) while classifying leprosy, it is particularly important to
ensure that individuals with multibacillary disease do not use the regimen for
the paucibacillary form of the disease. In the light skin explained that
leprosy can be present with different clinical signs. The resistance of
individuals varies from very strong to nil, with all possible grades in
between. Thus leprosy can be characterized by high resistance and low number of
bacilli (tuberculoid leprosy); between and very low resistance and high number
of bacilli (lepromatous leprosy). He further explained that between these two
ends of the spectrum, there is decrease in resistance and increase in the
number of bacilli in the body giving rise to borderline tuberculoid and borderline
lepromatous kinds of leprosy.