Leprosy history and symptoms

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

Common symptoms of leprosy include hypopigmented, anesthetic, red skin lesions, that are hard to heal, nodular growths on the skin, muscle weakness and paresthesia of the extremities and eye problems. If left untreated blindness and paralysis may occur.

Obtaining an adequate history is essential for the diagnosis of leprosy. The diagnosis may be harder to reach in nonendemic countries due to the lower prevalence. Elements such as international travels and contacts with ill people are very important. Since symptoms take up to 10 years to develop, this list should be broad in time. Recent trauma should also be ruled out as a cause of the skin lesions.

Common symptoms of leprosy may include:^[1]

• Red skin lesions, possibly with granular appearance
• 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
• Growths in the skin
• Thicker or dry skin
• Paresthesia or lack of sensation, predominantly on the hands, arms, feet and legs.
• Muscle weakness, predominantly of the hands, feet and eyelids.
• Eye problems, such as dry eyes and corneal abrasion
• Enlargement of nerves, followed by tenderness and/or pain, particularly on the elbow and knee areas.
• Nasal congestion
• Epistaxis
• Feet lesions

Less common symptoms appearing in more severe cases include:^[1]

• Severe pain
• Paralysis, particularly of the hands and feet in more severe cases
• Blindness

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