Leprosy

Alternative names:

Hansen disease

Symptoms:

History of

• exposure or family members with leprosy
• living or visiting areas of the world where leprosy is endemic (cases are known to occur in that area)

Symptoms include

• one or more hypopigmented skin lesions that have decreased sensation to touch, heat, or pain
• skin lesions that do not heal after several weeks to months
• numbness or absent sensation in the hands and arms or feet and legs
• muscle weakness resulting in signs such as foot drop (the toe drags when the foot is lifted to take a step)

Signs and tests:

• lepromin skin test
• skin scraping examination for acid fast rods (typical appearance of mycobacteria leprae)