Our Experience on Unusual Manifestations of Hansen’s Disease - A Case Series

• Published in: APIK Journal of Internal Medicine 2023-09
• Main Authors: Harikrishna, Ganaraja Valakunja, Jayashankar, C. A., Arora, Sukriti, Mala, Kavya, Shalini, A. S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2666-1802; 2666-1802
• DOI: 10.4103/ajim.ajim_9_23

Hansen’s disease is caused by an acid–fast bacillus – Mycobacterium leprae . Diagnosis of Hansen’s disease is mainly clinical. Hence, it is crucial to be aware of its diverse manifestations. We hereby report three such cases of Hansen’s disease with uncommon presentation. Case 1: A 26-year-old male presented with progressive numbness and multiple skin lesions over both upper and lower limbs in the past 3 years. Case 2: A 26-year-old male presented with tingling sensation of both upper limbs and lower limbs along with multiple skin lesions all over the body in the past 10 months. Case 3: A 39-year-old male presented with multiple joint pain, electric shock-like sensation of both upper limbs, and weakness of both hands along with skin rashes all over the body in the past 1 month. Skin examination of all these patients revealed multiple hypoanesthetic erythematous patches in the involved areas. Nerve conduction study was suggestive of asymmetric sensory motor axonal polyneuropathy. Skin biopsy from the lesions of the first patient revealed epithelioid granulomas suggesting borderline tuberculoid leprosy. Ziehl–Neelsen stain was positive for both fragmented and intact bacilli in the second and third cases, suggesting lepromatous leprosy. All of them were treated successfully with antileprosy drugs. It is essential to consider leprosy as a differential diagnosis in all patients presenting with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, so that an early diagnosis and treatment is possible.