Orofacial lesions in treated southeast Brazilian leprosy patients: a cross-sectional study

• Published in: Oral diseases Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 270 - 273
• Main Authors: Martins, MD, Russo, MP, Lemos, JBD, Fernandes, KPS, Bussadori, SK, Corrêa, CT, Martins, MAT
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2007
• Subjects: Aged; Brazil; chronic atrophic candidiasis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dentistry; Facial Dermatoses - etiology; Female; fissured tongue; Hansen's disease; hanseniasis; Humans; inflammatory papillary hyperplasia; Leprostatic Agents - therapeutic use; leprosy; Leprosy - complications; Leprosy - drug therapy; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Diseases - etiology; Mouth Mucosa - pathology; Brazil
• ISSN: 1354-523X; 1601-0825
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2006.01275.x

Aim:  The aim of the present study was to clinically evaluate the oral mucosa lesions of leprosy patients during and after multi‐drug therapy. Methods:  Clinical examination, medical and dental history examination was performed in 100 leprosy patients. Results:  The results revealed that 71 patients, 50 men and 21 women, exibited oral lesions. The most frequent lesions were: fissured tongue (18 cases), inflammatory papillary hyperplasia (16 cases), chronic atrophic candidiasis (10 cases), fibroma (10 cases), erythematous candidiasis (eight cases), and traumatic ulceration (seven cases). Conclusion:  We conclude that leprosy‐related lesions are not present in patients undergoing treatment for leprosy, probably due to response to multidrug therapy.