Facial burning in women with leprosy, physiological or pathological?

INTRODUCTION

Eight peri-menopausal women, five with borderline lepromatous leprosy and three with borderline tuberculoid leprosy, self-referred complaining of 'burning of the face. Four were seen in 1993, three having been treated as 'menopausal'without betterment and four were seen in 1997.

METHODS

Eight peri-menopausal women who self-referred because of facial burning', and seven women who self-referred for other problems had a careful review of clinical records and were assessed fully for leprosy including graded sensory skin testing of the face, and standard nerve function tests.

RESULTS

On examination three in each group of four complaining of facial burning were found to have major loss of facial sensation and one had generalised neuritis without significant facial involvement. Treatment with antileprotics and steroids resulted in recovery of facial sensation, although one later became blind. Of the seven who self-referred without facial burning, five had no facial sensory loss and two had slight loss of facial sensation.