A case of borderline tuberculoid leprosy with Type 1 reaction

Abstract

While leprosy is usually a chronic disease, leprosy reactions may lead to acute problems. These reactions most often occur after initiation of therapy, but can also develop before treatment. We report a case of leprosy type 1 reaction as the first manifestation of borderline tuberculoid leposy. The patient was a 71-year-old woman who had never received treatment for leprosy. She developed multiple erythematous, swollen lesions on has face, extremities and trunk within a few weeks and suffered from paresthesia, numbness and tenderness on those sites. General symptoms were accompanied by fever, malaise, fatigue and loss of appetite. Histological examination revealed multiple tuberculoid granulomas along with neurovascular bundles. A few acid-fast bacilli were detected on AFB stain. The disease was classified as borderline tuberculoid leprosy. The acute neuritis followed by skin lesions represented leprosy with type 1 reaction.