Leprosy natural history, complications and prognosis: Difference between revisions

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==Overview==
==Overview==
Leprosy, when not early [[diagnosis|diagnosed]] and [[therapy|treated]] appropriately, may lead to severe [[complications]], such as severe [[nerve damage]], [[blindness]], [[contractures]] and Lucio phenomenon. The [[prognosis]] will depend on how early the [[diagnosis]] is reached and how soon the multidrug therapy is started.
Leprosy may lead to severe [[complications]] if not [[diagnosis|diagnosed]] and treated early, which will affect the [[prognosis]].


==Natural History==
==Natural History==

Revision as of 15:59, 7 July 2014

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]

Overview

Leprosy may lead to severe complications if not diagnosed and treated early, which will affect the prognosis.

Natural History

Complications

Worldwide, 1-2 million persons are permanently disabled as a result of leprosy:[1] The number and degree of complications will depend on how early the condition is diagnosed and treatment is started. The later a correct diagnosis is reached, greater the number and severity of the complications. These may include:[2][3]

  • Lucio phenomenon - rare but potentially fatal complication, occurring predominantly in untreated lepromatous patients, as an acute necrotizing vasculopathy. It is common to observe painful irregular patches, that usually become pruritic, developing bullae. This phenomenon has been noted to occur predominantly in descendants from mexican populations.[4][5]

Prognosis

Leprosy is a curable disease when adequately treated. With early diagnosis and treatment, the damages inflicted in patients by the disease may be reduced. Therefore, early recognition and prompt treatment are essential to improve the prognosis of patients, increasing the chances of a normal lifestyle. To improve the chances of a better prognosis, physicians, particularly of endemic areas, must be aware of the early signs and symptoms of the disease and the population must be educated to avoid infection and search medical attention when such symptoms appear, thereby minimizing complications.

References

  1. Walker, Stephen L.; Lockwood, Dina N.J. (2007). "Leprosy". Clinics in Dermatology. 25 (2): 165–172. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2006.05.012. ISSN 0738-081X.
  2. Daniel E, Ffytche TJ, Kempen JH, Rao PS, Diener-West M, Courtright P (2006). "Incidence of ocular complications in patients with multibacillary leprosy after completion of a 2 year course of multidrug therapy". Br J Ophthalmol. 90 (8): 949–54. doi:10.1136/bjo.2006.094870. PMC 1857220. PMID 16707521.
  3. "P Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)". line feed character in |title= at position 2 (help)
  4. Rea, Thomas H. (1977). "Current Concepts in the Immunology of Leprosy". Archives of Dermatology. 113 (3): 345. doi:10.1001/archderm.1977.01640030091017. ISSN 0003-987X.
  5. Sehgal VN, Srivastava G, Sharma VK (1987). "Contemplative immune mechanism of Lucio phenomenon and its global status". J Dermatol. 14 (6): 580–5. PMID 3329658.


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