An Update on the Epidemiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Leprosy

Abstract

Leprosy is a granulomatous, chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae that has been reported for than 2000 years. The infection primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. M. leprae is bacterium that cannot be cultured in vitro and transmission and pathophysi- ological data is still uncertain and limited. Today the prevalence of this ancient disease is declining in most around the world. This decline is a direct effect of widespread adminis- tration by public health workers of multidrug therapy. However, emerging despite the use of multidrug therapy, identifying and monitoring resistance are still necessary.