Electrogustometry in Hansen's disease (study of 225 cases).

An electrogustometric study of 225 cases of Hansen's disease revealed impairment of taste in 55.1% of the cases. It was related to the duration of the disease, and was seen in 74.6% of the cases of lepromatous leprosy, 49.3% of the cases of borderline leprosy, and 41.3% of tuberculoid leprosy cases. Only in lepromatous cases was complete ageusia seen (9.39% of cases). All of the cases having lesions in the oropharynx and those with facial nerve palsy revealed impairment of taste, but it was not related to the type of antileprosy drug used or to the development of ENL reaction.