[Differential diagnosis of leprosy in developing countries--the skin and oral cavity]

There are some skin diseases which are frequently mistaken for leprosy and in consequence, often treated like it for a long period of time. The rate of false diagnoses is especially high in leprosy control programs of developing countries. However, a wrong diagnosis of leprosy can mean psychological disaster to the patient because of the stigma still attached to leprosy. According to the literature and our own observations in Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, and the Sudan, we present data on the differential diagnosis of leprosy concerning the skin and oral cavity.