Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Leprosy. An Update: Definition, Pathogenesis, Classification, Diagnosis, and Treatment

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 104; Issue: 7 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.adengl.2012.03.028

1695-4734

Kristian Eichelmann, Sergio Eduardo González González, Julio C. Salas‐Alanís, Jorge Ocampo‐Candiani,

Mycobacterium research and diagnosis

Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves and is still endemic in various regions of the world. Clinical presentation depends on the patient's immune status at the time of infection and during the course of the disease. Leprosy is associated with disability and marginalization. Diagnosis is clinical and is made when the patient has at least 1 of the following cardinal signs specified by the World Health Organization: hypopigmented or erythematous macules with sensory loss; thickened peripheral nerves; or positive acid-fast skin smear or skin biopsy with loss of adnexa at affected sites. Leprosy is treated with a multidrug combination of rifampicin, clofazimine, and dapsone. Two main regimens are used depending on whether the patient has paucibacillary or multibacillary disease.