Neuropathic pain in leprosy patients

• Published in: International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases Vol. 72; no. 2; pp. 134 - 138
• Main Authors: STUMP, Patrick R. N. A. G, BACCARELLI, Rosemari, MARCIANO, Lucia H. S. C, LAURIS, José R. P, TEIXEIRA, Manoel Jacobsen, URA, Somei, VIRMOND, Marcos C. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lawrence, KS Allen Press 01.06.2004
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Endemic Diseases; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Leprostatic Agents - therapeutic use; Leprosy; Leprosy, Tuberculoid - complications; Leprosy, Tuberculoid - drug therapy; Leprosy, Tuberculoid - epidemiology; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Mycobacterium leprae; Mycobacterium leprae - growth & development; Pain - microbiology; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tropical bacterial diseases; South America; Brazil; America; Human; Skin disease; Nervous system diseases; Dermatology; Leprosy; Mycobacterial infection; Neuropathy; Infection; Pain; Bacteriosis; Tropical medicine; Neuralgia; Neurological disorder
• ISSN: 0148-916X; 1544-581X
• DOI: 10.1489/1544-581X(2004)072<0134:NPILP>2.0.CO;2

The introduction of multidrug therapy by the World Health Organization has dramatically reduced the world prevalence of leprosy but the disease is still a public health problem in many countries, with a world prevalence of almost 600,000 cases in 2001. Damage to peripheral nerves is a key component of leprosy and the sensory and motor loss that follows is the basis for many of the classical features of this disease, such as skin wounds, cracks, plantar ulcers, clawed hands, drop foot, and incomplete closure of the eyelids. One of the most remarkable aspects of leprosy to lay persons and health care workers alike is that patients are reputed to feel no pain. However, neuropathic pain is arising as a major problem among leprosy patients. It can be nociceptive due to tissue inflammation, which mostly occurs during episodes of immune activation or neuropathic due to damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. This study, conducted among 358 leprosy patients, reveals a considerable prevalence of neuropathic pain and presents evidence that this common problem should be a high priority of those in charge of leprosy control programs.