ABSTRACT
Despite leprosy being eliminated worldwide, a reasonable number of new cases are encountered in many countries like India. Reactions in leprosy are quite common which contributes significantly to morbidity and disabilities in patients suffering from leprosy. Two types of reactions can occur in leprosy patients depending on host's immune response against Mycobacterium leprae. Lazarine leprosy is a rare ulcerating form of leprosy which is considered as an exaggerated type 1 reaction. We are reporting a case of facial lazarine leprosy in a normal immunocompetent person without any underlying malnutrition. This case presented with infiltrated, oedematous plaque with ulceration and crusting, features which are suggestive of Lazarine leprosy but can also be indicative of severe type 1 reaction. Aggressive nature of the lesion and ulceration were taken into consideration to diagnose this case as Lazarine leprosy.
ABSTRACT
Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which has a distinct predilection for cooler parts of the body. There are many forms of leprosy that range from the mildest indeterminate form to the most severe lepromatous type. The type of disease an individual develops depends on the host immune status; with tuberculoid type being seen in those with good immunity and lepromatous form in individuals with poor immunity to leprosy bacillus. Deep ulcers may occur in association with erythema nodosum leprosum, Lazarine leprosy and Lucio phenomenon. We report a male who presented with multiple acute onset foul smelling stellate ulcers over bilateral extremities. He was diagnosed as Borderline lepromatous leprosy (not in reaction) on the basis of histopathology. This type of presentation has not been reported till date.