Evaluation of significance of skin smears in leprosy for diagnosis, follow-up, assessment of treatment outcome and relapse

Leprosy is a chronic bacterial disease of man caused by Mycobacterium leprae involving primarily the skin, peripheral nerves and nasal mucosa and if not diagnosed & treated early causes deformities in eyes, hands & feet. The bacteriological examination in leprosy is an effective tool to diagnose the cases and their consequences, monitoring their prognosis and identifying possible cases of relapse for further investigations.