A clinical study of the mouth in untreated lepromatous patients

Abstract

The mouth in 40 consecutive, unselected bacilliferous leprosy patients has been examined. The frequency and various types of lesion are reported. Twenty-three patients showed lesions inside the mouth. Although all parts of the mouth were found to be affected in a varying percentage of patients, the hard palate was involved in all 23 patients. Further, of these 23 patients, 21 showed acid-fast bacilli on the surface of mouth as judged by surface smears and mouthwash. A review of the literature concerning oral lesions in lepromatous leprosy is also presented.