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Review
. 2022 Jul 4:2022:8652062.
doi: 10.1155/2022/8652062. eCollection 2022.

Leprosy: A Review of Epidemiology, Clinical Diagnosis, and Management

Kou-Huang Chen  1 , Cheng-Yao Lin  2   3   4 , Shih-Bin Su  5 , Kow-Tong Chen  6   7
Affiliations
Review

Leprosy: A Review of Epidemiology, Clinical Diagnosis, and Management

Kou-Huang Chen et al. J Trop Med. .

Abstract

Leprosy is a neglected infectious disease caused by acid-fast bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the skin and then progresses to a secondary stage, causing peripheral neuropathy with potential long-term disability along with stigma. Leprosy patients account for a significant proportion of the global disease burden. Previous efforts to improve diagnostic and therapeutic techniques have focused on leprosy in adults, whereas childhood leprosy has been relatively neglected. This review aims to update the diagnostic and therapeutic recommendations for adult and childhood leprosy. This review summarizes the clinical, bacteriological, and immunological approaches used in the diagnosis of leprosy. As strategies for the diagnosis and management of leprosy continue to develop better and more advanced knowledge, control and prevention of leprosy are crucial.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Global distribution of new leprosy cases in 2020 (source: World Health Organization/National Leprosy Program, WHO 2021) [6].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Tuberculoid leprosy: lesion with a single, stable, hairless plaque, and well-defined borders (photograph courtesy of Eichelmann, et al.) [23].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Lepromatous leprosy: lesion with diffuse thickening, numerous discrete, and confluent nodules (photograph courtesy of White, et al.) [24].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Type 1 reaction: lesions with erythema, swelling, papules, and plaques (photograph courtesy of Oliveira, et al.) [20].
Figure 5
Figure 5
Type 2 reaction: lesions with erythema multiform-like bullous (photograph courtesy of Alemu Belachew, et al.) [36].
Figure 6
Figure 6
Lepromatous leprosy: skin lesions resembling guttate psoriasis, prurigo nodularis, or hypertrophic lichen planus (photograph courtesy of Kundakci, et al.) [91].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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