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Hansen's disease is manifested in a broad spectrum: clinical and histopathological. These differences arise from an individual's immunological response against diverse components of Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy constitutes a study model of immunity response, where leprosy reaction type 1 can develop in an increased reaction; in that case, it is called a reverse reaction, or can develop in a withering of the response, which is then called a degrading response. These variations correspond to the instability of the cell immune response. Leprosy reaction 2 differs in that it is produced under appeasement of humoral type of immune response. Leprosy reaction type 1, in reversal variety, is expressed clinically as an inflammatory exacerbation of skin lesions and nervous trunks, with motor and sensitive alterations. This type of reaction is present in the dimorph varieties of Hansen's disease. The recognition of the reactional states is essential to give an early and efficient treatment and to avoid the appearance of the stigmatas of the disease. This paper describes clinical aspects through the presentation of a case and reviews its immunology, epidemiology, histopathology and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]