01891nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653001700080653000900097653001100106653001000117653002200127653001100149653001100160653001200171653000900183653001600192653002500208653003000233653002600263653001100289100001600300700001300316245006300329856006700392300001100459490000700470520105000477022001401527       2001                            d  c2001 Apr10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAge of Onset10aAged10aBiopsy10aChild10aDiagnostic Errors10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aPhysical Examination10aReferral and Consultation10aRetrospective Studies10aTravel1 aLockwood DN1 aReid A J00aThe diagnosis of leprosy is delayed in the United Kingdom.  uhttp://qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/content/94/4/207.full.pdf+html  a207-120 v943 a<p>Diagnostic delay in leprosy can have serious neurological consequences for the patient. We studied the presentation of leprosy patients, focusing on delays in diagnosis, in a retrospective case-note review of 28 patients referred to The Hospital for Tropical Diseases during 1995-1998. The median ages at onset of symptoms and at diagnosis were 25.1 years (range 9-77.7) and 30.1 years (range 9-78.3), respectively. The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was 1.8 years (0.2-15.2). Prior to referral to a leprologist, patients had seen a dermatologist (20), neurologist (9), orthopaedic surgeon (5) and rheumatologist (2). Delay in diagnosis occurred in 82% of cases. Misdiagnoses as dermatological and neurological conditions were important causes of delay, and 68% of patients had nerve damage resulting in disability. Leprosy can be difficult to diagnose outside endemic areas. Increased awareness amongst general practitioners and hospital specialists would lead to more rapid diagnosis, thus minimizing damage and disability.</p>  a1460-2725