Leprosy history and symptoms
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
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Overview
This chronic infectious disease usually affects the skin and peripheral nerves but has a wide range of possible clinical manifestations. Patients are classified as having paucibacillary or multibacillary Hansen's disease. Paucibacillary Hansen's disease is milder and characterized by one or more hypopigmented skin macules. Multibacillary Hansen's disease is associated with symmetric skin lesions, nodules, plaques, thickened dermis, and frequent involvement of the nasal mucosa resulting in nasal congestion and epistaxis.
Symptoms
Symptoms include:
- Skin lesions that are lighter than normal skin color
- Lesions have decreased sensation to touch, heat, or pain
- Lesions do not heal after several weeks to months
- Numbness or absent sensation in the hands, arms, feet, and legs
- Muscle weakness