Characteristics of cutaneous leprosy: Borderline subtypes lie between the paucibacillary and multibacillary groups, with patients having some degree of unstable immunity and multiple lesions.
| CHARACTERISTIC | PAUCIBACILLARY (TUBERCULOID) | MULTIBACILLARY (LEPROMATOUS) |
|---|---|---|
| World Health Organization definition6 | 1–5 patches associated with leprosy | > 5 patches associated with leprosy |
| Bacterial count | None | Many |
| Severity | Mild | Can be extreme |
| Symmetry | Asymmetric | Symmetric |
| Borders | Well demarcated, elevated | Poorly demarcated |
| Infectivity | Very limited | Possibly more infectious |
| Prognosis | Good with treatment | Poor without treatment |
Data from Reibel et al,5 Rodrigues and Lockwood,19 and Lastória and Abreu.20