Leprosy in Puerto Rico (1901-2001)
Vázquez, Jé.; Lugo, A.; Almodóvar, P.L.; Sánchez, J.L.
Boletin de la Asociacion Medica de Puerto Rico 95(4): 17-21
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-4849 PMID: 15032024 Document Number: 9273
Since ancient history, leprosy or Hansen's disease, the disease of Saint Lazarus, has been part of the human civilization. It has been defined as a chronic communicable disease caused by the acid fast bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. It may occur at any age, and has various clinical presentations, the two principal forms being lepromatous and tuberculoid. The lepromatous type is a progressive disease with nodular skin lesions containing numerous acid-fast bacilli, slow symmetric nerve involvement, and a negative lepromin skin test. The tuberculoid type is a benign and non-progressive form, with localized skin lesions containing few bacilli, asymmetric nerve involvement, and a positive lepromin skin test. Leprosy should be suspected in any patient with peripheral neuropathy and concomitant chronic skin lesions. Its incubation period ranges from 1 to 30 years.
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