Open AccessA Case Report of Multibacillary Leprosy Presenting with Multiple Outbreaks of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum
Author(s) -
Rita Bouceiro-Mendes,
Ana Ortins-Pina,
Tiago A. Marques,
Miguel Viveiros,
Diana Machado,
Luı́s Lito,
João Ferreira,
Luís SoaresdeAlmeida,
João Freitas,
Paulo Filipe
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
revista da sociedade portuguesa de dermatologia e venereologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2182-2409
pISSN - 2182-2395
DOI - 10.29021/spdv.77.1.1015
Subject(s) - leprosy , mycobacterium leprae , dermatology , medicine , outbreak , disease , erythema nodosum , pathology
Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease with a long incubation period caused by Mycobacterium leprae that mainly affects the skin, mucous membranes and the peripheral nervous system. It carries the risk of per-manent sequels with a significant impact on the patient’s quality of life. It has a considerable clinically diver-sity and possible atypical presentations. We present a case of a 31-year-old, skin phototype V woman with multibacillary leprosy characterized by multiple outbreaks of erythema nodosum leprosum, as an inaugural manifestation of the disease. The disease was acquired within a group of children and adolescents from an endemic region of Africa, evolved untreated for 3 years, and presented with unusual features and remarkable lymphatic involvement. We highlight the importance of building and maintaining collaboration between expert centers and institutional partnerships in order to provide the adequate diagnostic resources and appropriate care to the affected populations.