Case report: Hansen's disease in an active duty soldier presenting with type 1 reversal reaction

Abstract

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease (HD), is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and is a significant cause of morbidity worldwide. Clinical manifestations range from isolated skin rash to severe peripheral neuropathy. Treatment involves a prolonged course of multiple antimicrobials. Although rare in the U.S., with only 168 new cases reported in 2016, HD remains a prevalent disease throughout the world, with 214,783 new cases worldwide that same year.¹ It remains clinically relevant for service members born in and deployed to endemic regions. This report describes a case of HD diagnosed in an active duty soldier born and raised in Micronesia, a highly endemic region.