Leprosy: A clinical review

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease, caused by Mycobacteriumleprae. It has great historical importance and is responsible forhigh rates of infected people all over the world, Brazil beingthe second country in number of cases, only behind India.The clinical manifestations of the disease depend on the host’simmune response, and it has the potential to affect practicallyall organs and systems, although it mainly affects the skin andperipheral nerves, and may, above all, present periods of aggravation,which are called reactions. Thus, it is characterized as adisease of incapacitating character, which can bring irreparablephysical deformities, presenting a great impact on the physical,social, and mental health of the patient. In this review we discussthe main aspects involving the condition of neglected disease,especially the epidemiology, classifications, clinical picture,complications, diagnosis, treatment, and care for prevention.

Erythema Nodosum Leprosum Reaction Masquerading as Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) is the most common causative organism for this disease. Rarely, Mycobacterium lepromatosis has been implicated in a few countries, such as Mexico and Costa Rica [ 1 ]. The cardinal signs of leprosy entail a hypopigmented or erythematous patch with hypoesthesia and thickened peripheral nerves [ 2 ].…”

“…M. leprae has a prolonged incubation period of approximately three to five years and a slow generation time [ 3 , 4 ]. Although the exact mechanism of transmission is unknown, it is widely accepted that leprosy spreads primarily through the droplet route [ 1 , 4 ]. However, even gastrointestinal, transplacental, and direct inoculation routes have also been avenues of disease transmission [ 2 , 4 ].…”

Virchowian Leprosy Mimetizing Juvenile Systemic Scleroderma

“…Dimorphic leprosy, the most common form in adults, presents with erythematous or hypopigmented macules or tuberculoid-like lesions with raised, poorly defined borders (BARRETO et al, 2017). The Virchowian form can course with erythemato-violaceous plaques, livedo reticularis, nodules, infiltration, madarosis and xeroderma (GOMES et al, 2021). All of the above classifications are also used to establish the clinical forms in children and adolescents.…”

Desafios atuais para a erradicação hanseníase: do diagnóstico ao tratamento

“…A hanseníase é considerada como endêmica em mais de 100 países em todo o mundo, no mundo cerca de 4 milhões de pessoas vivem com algum tipo de deficiência relacionada a essa doença (Deps & Cruz, 2020). Essa doença é prevalente em regiões como a Ásia, África e nas Américas, principalmente em países de baixa e média renda (Naaz et al, 2017;Gomes et al., 2021). Nos últimos anos em torno de 200.000 casos relatados têm sido relatados, de modo que a hanseníase continua sendo um problema de saúde pública em países endêmicos (Deps & Cruz, 2020;Gomes et al, 2021).…”

“…Essa doença é prevalente em regiões como a Ásia, África e nas Américas, principalmente em países de baixa e média renda (Naaz et al, 2017;Gomes et al., 2021). Nos últimos anos em torno de 200.000 casos relatados têm sido relatados, de modo que a hanseníase continua sendo um problema de saúde pública em países endêmicos (Deps & Cruz, 2020;Gomes et al, 2021). Apesar de exibir um declínio na prevalência em alguns países, essa doença ainda permanece como um problema de saúde pública devido a transmissão ativa e detecção de casos novos (Leano et al, 2019).…”