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A Case of Leprosy in Italy: A Multifaceted Disease Which Continues to Challenge Medical Doctors.
- Source :
-
Journal of immigrant and minority health [J Immigr Minor Health] 2016 Apr; Vol. 18 (2), pp. 490-3. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, characterized by a very long incubation period, confounding signs and symptoms and difficulty to establish the onset time. Considering the stigma associated with the diagnosis and the difficulties in detecting asymptomatic leprosy, the incidence and prevalence of this disease are underestimated. In Italy, leprosy is currently included among the rare diseases and can occur as an imported pathology in native individuals or extra-EU immigrants. Currently, given its exceptional appearance in Italy, leprosy is extremely difficult to recognize. In fact, the incomplete knowledge by the medical class of geographical epidemiology and aetiology of tropical diseases including leprosy, often delays the definitive diagnosis. Due to the increasing rate of the migration flows, in Italy and in Europe, leprosy should be considered among the differential diagnosis in patients with cutaneous and neurological signs, especially when originating from endemic countries.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Biopsy, Needle
Black People
Disease Progression
Follow-Up Studies
Ghana ethnology
Humans
Italy
Leprosy, Borderline drug therapy
Leprosy, Lepromatous drug therapy
Male
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases physiopathology
Rare Diseases
Refugees
Risk Assessment
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome
World Health Organization
Leprostatic Agents administration & dosage
Leprosy, Borderline diagnosis
Leprosy, Lepromatous diagnosis
Mycobacterium leprae isolation & purification
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1557-1920
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of immigrant and minority health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26018958
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0223-z