Late diagnosis of Leprosy

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic, low-contagious, systemic infectious disease that mainly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. It occurs in people of any age and both sexes. Early diagnosis, in the first year of the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease, is of utmost importance and prevents disabilities. We report the case of a 55-year-old male patient admitted to the Dermatology Service at the hospital with four year evolution of blistering ulcerative skin lesions on the left hand and impaired sensitivity. The physical examination confirmed the thickening of the ulnar and radial nerves of the left arm, with areas of anesthesia and hypoesthesia in said limb. The result of anatomopathological study, as well as Hansen´s smear coding 2, reported Borderline Leprosy that evolved into Lepromatous Leprosy. We report this case due to the importrance of early diagnosis in the disease, and how it should always be considered.