らい患者の口辺の不自由度に関する実態調査

Abstract

Degree of disability in the oral functions was studied on a total of 1109 patients of leprosis consisting of 712 males and 397 females who were admitted in Kikuchi-Keifuen, a National Sanatorium for Leprosy located in Kumamoto Prefecture. Results were summarized as follows. 1. Disability in mastication Those who were suffering from masticatory inconvenience accounted for about 40 percent of the total subjects, of whom about 20 percent showed severe masticatory disability, not even receiving venefit of wearing any kind of prosthetic appliances. There was found no difference in the degree of masticatory disability with sexes and types of the afflictions. 2. Motor paralysis of lower half facial muscles Paralytic disability in the act of blowing or puckering up the mouth was found in about 50 percent of the subjects, over the half of whom showing severe degree of disability. Difficulty in opening the lips was found in about 40 percent, and labioptosis in about 30 percent, of whom the majority showing severe symptoms. The latter disability was likely to occur more frequently in the male patients. 3. Sensory paralysis in lower half of face Sensory paralysis in the lower half of face was found in 10 percent of subjects examined. Sensory paralysis localyzed in only red lip portion occurred in about 40 percent, the majority of whom showing severe symptoms. 4. Physical disability at the dinner table Those who complained any one kind of physical disabilities every time the patients took meal amounted to about 40 percent of the total, in which were included those patients who suffered the contracture of one or more fingers. Those who needed the helper in taking meal amounted to about 10 percent. Regardless of the types of affliction which patients suffered, degree of disability tended to be severer in the male than in the female patients.