Facial Lazarine Leprosy in Post-elimination Era: A Case Report

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.