Leprosy: A clinical review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12957/bjhbs.2021.63968Keywords:
Mycobacterium leprae, Leprosy, Epidemiology.Abstract
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium
leprae. It has great historical importance and is responsible for
high rates of infected people all over the world, Brazil being
the second country in number of cases, only behind India.
The clinical manifestations of the disease depend on the host’s
immune response, and it has the potential to affect practically
all organs and systems, although it mainly affects the skin and
peripheral nerves, and may, above all, present periods of aggravation,
which are called reactions. Thus, it is characterized as a
disease of incapacitating character, which can bring irreparable
physical deformities, presenting a great impact on the physical,
social, and mental health of the patient. In this review we discuss
the main aspects involving the condition of neglected disease,
especially the epidemiology, classifications, clinical picture,
complications, diagnosis, treatment, and care for prevention.
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