W Alemu Belachew1, B Naafs1,2,3,4. 1. Department of Dermatovenereology, Ayder Referral Hospital Mekelle University, Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia. 2. Regional Dermatology Training Centre (RDTC), Moshi, Tanzania. 3. Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL), Bauru, SP, Brazil. 4. Foundation Global Dermatology, Munnekeburen, the Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) or Mycobacterium lepromatosis (M. lepromatosis). In Europe, most of the leprosy cases are imported. However, occasionally a case is diagnosed in one of the old endemic foci. Leprosy is often not suspected because it is no longer emphasized in the medical curricula. Attention shifted from leprosy to tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infections in the late 20th century, whereby the WHO leprosy programme was toned down in the conviction that leprosy was all but eliminated. The result of unawareness is a harmful doctor's delay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This paper focusses on clinical diagnosis, complications and treatment based on literature and experience. RESULTS: It mentions the value of laboratory tests in classification, follow-up and detection of relapses. It discusses the etiopathology. CONCLUSION: This is a position statement.
BACKGROUND:Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) or Mycobacterium lepromatosis (M. lepromatosis). In Europe, most of the leprosy cases are imported. However, occasionally a case is diagnosed in one of the old endemic foci. Leprosy is often not suspected because it is no longer emphasized in the medical curricula. Attention shifted from leprosy to tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infections in the late 20th century, whereby the WHO leprosy programme was toned down in the conviction that leprosy was all but eliminated. The result of unawareness is a harmful doctor's delay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This paper focusses on clinical diagnosis, complications and treatment based on literature and experience. RESULTS: It mentions the value of laboratory tests in classification, follow-up and detection of relapses. It discusses the etiopathology. CONCLUSION: This is a position statement.
Authors: Celivane Cavalcanti Barbosa; Cristine Vieira do Bonfim; Cintia Michele Gondim de Brito; Wayner Vieira de Souza; Marcella Fernandes de Oliveira Melo; Zulma Maria de Medeiros Journal: Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo Date: 2020-11-27 Impact factor: 1.846
Authors: Glauber Voltan; Fred Bernards Filho; Marcel Nani Leite; Natália Aparecida De Paula; Jaci Maria Santana; Claudia Maria Lincoln Silva; Josafá Gonçalves Barreto; Moises Batista Da Silva; Guilherme Conde; Claudio Guedes Salgado; Marco Andrey Cipriani Frade Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-09-09