Indeterminate leprosy and lepromatous index case: four cases in the same family

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Brazil remains as the country with the second largest number of cases in the world. We report the case of three patients diagnosed with indeterminate leprosy in the same fa...

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Published in:Anais brasileiros de dermatología 2013-12, Vol.88 (6 Suppl 1), p.105-108
Main Authors: Silva, Vanessa Priscilla Martins da, Fonseca, Heloisa Helena Ramos, Sens, Mariana Mazzochi, Bender, Alvaro Thadeu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - pathology
Biopsy
Case Report
Child
DERMATOLOGY
Family Health
Female
HIV
HIV Seropositivity
Humans
Leprosy
Leprosy - pathology
Leprosy, lepromatous
Leprosy, Lepromatous - pathology
Leprosy, paucibacillary
Male
Risk Factors
Young Adult
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Summary:Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Brazil remains as the country with the second largest number of cases in the world. We report the case of three patients diagnosed with indeterminate leprosy in the same family. Two patients were HIV positive. An active search led to the discovery of the index case. It was crucial to persist in the search of the index case. This report shows how important it is to teach physicians and the general population about the signs and symptoms of leprosy. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent sequelae and to eliminate the disease as a public health problem.
ISSN:0365-0596
1806-4841
1806-4841
0365-0596
DOI:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20132050