Leprosy Mailing List May 2nd, 2007
Ref.:
How to treat early lagophthalmos?
From: Kawuma J., Kampala,
Uganda
Dear Salvatore,
I refer to your message (LML
May 1st, 2007). I
am not providing answers but asking some more questions: the
information provided is silent about time. Can you tell us more about the
age of the patient, the duration of symptoms and signs (if you know)? For how long have you used the
described management strategy and with which results? Was physiotherapy part of the
management so far?
Joseph Kawuma
GLRA, Uganda
Dear Dr Kawuma,
Thank you very much for your
message. Herewith are the
answers.
The patient is a 19 years old
male (55 kg). The first
lesions appeared around the eyes about one year ago. He complains eye problems
since six months. At
first assessment (at admission, April 19th) I wrote on my
notes: <<
he complains about water running down from
his eyes;
on the right eye there is a barely evident gap in
the closure of the eye lids; the voluntary muscle test on eyes is weak
bilaterally >>.
Now, after 13 days of
treatment (prednisolone, omeprazole, rifampicine, dapsone and
clofazimine daily) the gap has become more evident and is about 2 mm. I suppose that is because at
admission the oedema and infiltration of the eye lids covered the
lagophthalmos; while now the all region is less inflamed, the oedema
has subsided and the gap is clearer.
I started physiotherapy today
(see the next message from Dr Saunderson).
Best regards,
Salvatore
