Delayed diagnosis of neural signs of leprosy

ABSTRACT

Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It mainly affects the peripheral nerves and skin. Neural symptoms often precede the appearance of skin lesions but in many cases leprosy is not considered as a cause, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Ensuing nerve damage leads to deformity and disability. We herein, describe two adult males who first presented with neural symptoms, but in both the cases the diagnosis of leprosy was delayed by several years. The outcome in both was a visible deformity