ABSTRACT
Exacerbation of the immune response against Mycobacterium leprae can lead to neuritis, which is commonly treated via immunosuppression with corticosteroids. Early neurolysis may be performed concurrently, especially in young patients with a risk of functional sequelae. We report the case of a young patient experienced intense pain in the left elbow one year after the treatment of tuberculoid-tuberculoid leprosy. The pain was associated with paresthesias in the ulnar edge and left ulnar claw. After evaluation, the diagnosis was changed to borderline tuberculoid leprosy accompanied with neuritis of the left ulnar nerve. Early neurolysis resulted in rapid reduction of the pain and recovery of motor function.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Male , Leprosy, Paucibacillary/complications , Neuritis/surgery , Nerve Block , Neuritis/etiology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The infection by Mycobacterium marinum in humans is relatively uncommon. When it occurs, it mainly affects the skin, usually with a chronic, indolent and benign evolution. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, and a significant delay may be observed between the first symptoms to the final diagnosis. This present case reports a M. marinum infection in an immunocompetent patient that had a chronic undiagnosed injury on the dominant hand for at least five years. The patient had several medical consultations, without proper suspicion, hampering adequate diagnostic investigation. Histopathology detected tuberculoid granulomas, but showed no acid-fast bacilli. The culture in appropriate medium and the polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme analysis (PRA)-hsp65 confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment with clarithromycin (1 g/day) for three months was effective. Although uncommon, this infection is a contact zoonosis. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to be aware of this diagnosis and properly guide preventable measures to professionals that are in risk group.(AU)
Subject(s)
Mycobacterium marinum , Research Report , Granuloma , InfectionsABSTRACT
The infection by Mycobacterium marinum in humans is relatively uncommon. When it occurs, it mainly affects the skin, usually with a chronic, indolent and benign evolution. The diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, and a significant delay may be observed between the first symptoms to the final diagnosis. This present case reports a M. marinum infection in an immunocompetent patient that had a chronic undiagnosed injury on the dominant hand for at least five years. The patient had several medical consultations, without proper suspicion, hampering adequate diagnostic investigation. Histopathology detected tuberculoid granulomas, but showed no acid-fast bacilli. The culture in appropriate medium and the polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme analysis (PRA)-hsp65 confirmed the diagnosis. Treatment with clarithromycin (1 g/day) for three months was effective. Although uncommon, this infection is a contact zoonosis. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to be aware of this diagnosis and properly guide preventable measures to professionals that are in risk group.
Subject(s)
Humans , Mycobacterium Infections/diagnosis , Mycobacterium Infections/therapy , Mycobacterium marinumABSTRACT
A hanseníase é doença endêmica e de notificação compulsória no Brasil. Há diversos sistemas de classificação para instituição da poliquimioterapia. Descreve-se caso de jovem com diagnóstico e tratamento de hanseníase paucibacilar que, após sete anos, retorna com recidiva das lesões e tratamento para multibacilar, evoluindo com eritema nodoso necrotizante.
Leprosy is an endemic and notifiable disease in Brazil. There are several classification systems for institution of multidrug therapy. We describe the case of a young man with diagnosis and treatment of paucibacillary leprosy who, after seven years, returns with lesion recurrence and treatment for multibacillary evolving necrotizing erythema nodosum.