Delayed diagnosis of multibacillary leprosy: a report of eight cases

Leprosy is an important public health problem in Brazil. However, this disease is still poorly diagnosed in its early stages, leading to permanent disability and disfigurement. We examined eight patients with clinical and histologicaldiagnosis of multibacillary leprosy who were being treated for other diseases for about three years without clinicalhypothesis of leprosy. These cases illustrate the importance of medical education and public information aboutleprosy’s signs and symptoms for prompt recognition and treatment, which are necessary to prevent permanentdisabilities and eradicate the disease.