Tuberculoid leprosy is a form of
leprosy
Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...
characterized by solitary
skin lesion
A skin condition, also known as cutaneous condition, is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this s ...
s that are asymmetrically distributed with few lesions and well demarcated edges. There is also early and marked nerve damage. It tends to heal spontaneously.
Tuberculoid leprosy is characterized by the formation of
epithelioid cell
According to a common point of view epithelioid cells (also called epithelioid histiocytes)
are derivatives of activated macrophages resembling epithelial cells.
Structure and function
Structurally, epithelioid cells (when examined by light mi ...
granuloma
A granuloma is an aggregation of macrophages that forms in response to chronic inflammation. This occurs when the immune system attempts to isolate foreign substances that it is otherwise unable to eliminate. Such substances include infectious ...
s with a large number of
epithelioid cell
According to a common point of view epithelioid cells (also called epithelioid histiocytes)
are derivatives of activated macrophages resembling epithelial cells.
Structure and function
Structurally, epithelioid cells (when examined by light mi ...
s. In this form of leprosy ''
Mycobacterium leprae
''Mycobacterium leprae'' (also known as the leprosy bacillus or Hansen's bacillus), is one
of the two species of bacteria that cause Hansen’s disease (leprosy), a chronic but curable infectious disease that damages the peripheral nerves and ...
'' are either absent from the lesion or occur in very small numbers. This type of leprosy is the most benign and the least contagious.
See also
*
Leprosy
Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damag ...
*
Skin lesion
A skin condition, also known as cutaneous condition, is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, nails, and related muscle and glands. The major function of this s ...
References
External links
Bacterium-related cutaneous conditions
{{Cutaneous-infection-stub