infectious diseases
Leprosy
Key Points
Leprosy is a chronic infection usually caused by the acid-fast bacilliMycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is not very contagious in untreated patients and not at all contagious once treatment starts. Leprosy affects mainly the skin and peripheral nerves. The most severe complications result from loss of the sense of touch, pain, and temperature; muscle weakness that can result in deformities; and disfiguring lesions of the skin and nasal mucosa. Inflammatory reactions called leprosy reactions can occur and require treatment with corticosteroids. Diagnose based on biopsy;M. lepraeandM. lepromatosiscannot be grown in culture. Treatment depends on the form of leprosy but involves multidrug regimens typically usingdapsone,rifampin, andclofaziminefor multibacillary anddapsoneandrifampinfor paucibacillary. 