Challenges related to the cases of lepromatous leprosy: a report of two cases

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae with various clinical symptoms. Even though the incidence of leprosy has diminished in Saudi Arabia, it still has not been eliminated. We present two cases of leprosy from India residing in Saudi Arabia that were successfully managed with multidrug therapy. The first patient was a 33-year-old man with a history of enlarging erythematous patch and nose deformity on his face and upper and lower extremities started two years ago. The second patient was a 25-year-old man who presented with multiple hyperpigmented plaques on the upper and lower extremities in the last two years. The patient was firstly misdiagnosed and treated as tinea corporis without improvement. In both patients, the histological study from cutaneous lesions confirmed lepromatous leprosy. This report aimed to introduce the manifestations of leprosy, emphasizing the nose's involvement in the first case and the misdiagnosis of leprosy in the second case.