Leprosy (Hansen’s disease)

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous bacterial infection caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae (M.leprae) that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Leprosy is a multi-organ infectious disease that can cause severe disability. Lepromatous leprosy is considered to be at the systemic and infectious end of the disease spectrum and correlates with an absence of an immune response to M. leprae antigens. Tuberculoid leprosy form correlates with adequate immune response, lesions are not usually large or numerous and it may resolve spontaneously. Multidrug therapy treatment is a highly effective cure for leprosy. Leprosy may be complicated by episodes of immunological instability including type-1 and type-2 reactions (erythema nodosum leprosum).