TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA - A PRESENTING FEATURE OF FACIAL LEPROSY

Trigeminal neuralgia is a well recognized clinical entity. However, it has not been reported to mimic leprosy or vice versa. Of the 3 cases reported here, 2 initially presented with neuralgic symptoms similar t o that seen in trigeminal neuralgia and later developed borderline les ions on the face. The 3rd case demonstrated a tingling sensation along with firm and palpable supraorbital nerve (a branch of trigeminal ner ve), and a very early skin lesion on the face pointed to the need to c onsider neuritic type leprosy before concluding the final diagnosis of a disease like trigeminal neuralgia which calls for a different thera peutic approach.