Extensive Lepromatous Lymphadenitis Preceding Lesions on the Face and Earlobes: An Unusual Presentation of Leprosy in Singapore

Leprosy is also known as Hansen disease, as in some countries the diagnosis of leprosy carries a negative stigma and patients fear being shunned as outcasts. Presently, leprosy is primarily limited to specific geographical regions in resource-poor countries. As a result, there is increased difficult...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Case reports in dermatology 2018-01, Vol.10 (1), p.35-40
Main Authors: Yang, Shi Yao Sam, Leong, Wai Mun Sean, Kasunuran, Cruz Maria Teresa, Huang, Jing Xiang, Ho, Sue-Ann Ju Ee, Aw, Chen Wee Derrick, Merchant, Reshma A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abdomen
Case reports
Edema
Family medical history
Fever
Gangrene
Infections
Lepromatous leprosy
Lepromatous lymphadenitis
Leprosy
Lymphatic system
Mycobacterium leprae
Phosphatase
Single Case
Skin
TNF inhibitors
Tumor necrosis factor-TNF
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Summary:Leprosy is also known as Hansen disease, as in some countries the diagnosis of leprosy carries a negative stigma and patients fear being shunned as outcasts. Presently, leprosy is primarily limited to specific geographical regions in resource-poor countries. As a result, there is increased difficulty for the younger generation of physicians today to correctly identify leprosy due to a lack of exposure and a low-index of suspicion, particularly in developed countries. In this case, the indurated lesions over the face demonstrated a preference for the outer lateral aspects over the maxillary areas, the nose bridge, and the pinna of the ears consistent with the organism’s preference for cooler regions of the body. This was also evident in the other skin lesions affecting the more acral regions of the limbs in the early stage of disease progression. There is a need to keep this infective condition as an alternate diagnosis to all unusual cutaneous lesions.
ISSN:1662-6567
1662-6567
DOI:10.1159/000462959