Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Bug Bytes April 19, 2002
Vol. 3: No. 6 On March 25, a metro-area hospital ICP reported a
case of lepromatous and tuberculoid Hansen's disease (leprosy)
in a young Hispanic adult, born in Mexico, who had been living
in the U.S. for several years. The individual, who had been
symptomatic for 2 years, presented at a primary care clinic with
a worsening toe ulcer. Examination revealed typical signs of
Hansen's disease, including skin lesions on the abdomen, ear,
fingers, and legs; bone degradation and peripheral neuropathy.
The patient was admitted to the hospital for further evaluation
and to start antibiotic therapy. Hansen's disease typically is
diagnosed by clinical findings, since the causative agent,
Mycobacterium leprae, normally cannot be grown in the
laboratory. Dr. Gerhard Armauer Hansen, a Norwegian scientist,
first discovered the Hansen's disease bacillus in 1873. Smears
of skin scrapings often are positive for acid-fast bacilli, and
a skin biopsy should be obtaine