Diagnostic Work-Up of Leprosy

Leprosy services are organized on two levels: the basic level integrated into general health services and a second, referral level. In most cases, leprosy has slow onset, in the skin. The first elements to be considered for diagnosis are the arrangement and characteristics of the lesions. After this clinical analysis, paraclinical tests are performed (testing for anesthesia and slit-skin smear examination for acid-fast bacilli by direct microscopy). Histopathology is the gold standard in leprosy diagnosis. Diagnosis is based on clinical, microbiological, and histopathological parameters. The diagnostic work-up is completed by searching for peripheral nerve trunk damage.