Leprosy affects all organs except
C i.e. Uterus In lepromatous leprosy (LL) bacilli are plentiful in circulating blood and widely disseminated in all organ systems except the lungs and central nervous systemQ (Harrison 18/1362) Leprosy affects nerves (posterior tibial > ulnar), eyesQ (lagopthalmos, corneal insensitivity, ulcer, uveitis, iritis, blindness), testisQ (TFSH/LH, decreased testosterone, aspermia/hypospermia, impotence & infeility),larynx (hoarseness d/t vocal nodule), nose (rhinitis, septal perforation, nasal collapse), kidney, liver, spleen, peripheral lymph nodes, bone marrow, bone (osteoporosis, cyst, fracture) and nails. - Skin lesions may be anywhere apa from hairy scalp, axillae, groins and perineum (regions of skin with highest temperature)- Rook's 8/e p. 32.10 Female genital tract is rarely involved in leprosy. But when involved ovary is the commonest site to be involvedQ causing TFSH/LH/prolactin and infeility due to ovarian failure. Pregnancy precipitates leprosy b/o altered immunity. When pregnant, LL and BL patients are predisposed to develop ENL d/t reduced immunity, but post-paum they are predisposed to develop DTH reaction (Jopling's type I reaction; upgrading, reversal or downgrading) d/t restored immunity. Untreated lactating BL and LL mothers have ble bacilli in their milk, but no risk has been identified in infants ingesting such bacilli. Dapsone in mother's mother's milk may produce hemolysis in the baby (Fitzpatric-1790).
Eyes
Nerves
Uterus
Ovary