I N TRODUC T IONLeprosy (or Hansen's disease) is a chronic and systemic infectious disease, with slow clinical evolution that mainly affects peripheral nerves (Schwann cells), skin and mucous membranes [1]. Leprosy is caused by the intracellular bacillus Mycobacterium leprae; the pathogenesis causes neural damage with loss of sensation and even deformations, which can have a significant mental and social impact on the patient [2][3][4][5]. WHO estimates that there are about 3 million people living with disabilities caused by leprosy worldwide [6].Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease. Due to cultural issues (such as stigma and fear of isolation) and the precariousness of health services, long delays of up to 10 years in the diagnosis of leprosy patients have been reported in many regions of Brazil [5,7]. In such circumstances, leprosy can progress to more severe forms (such as multibacillary -MB), which increases the risk of spreading the bacillus
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