TY - JOUR
T1 - Leprosy in the United States. Risks, recognition, regimens, resources
AU - Pust, R. E.
AU - Campos-Outcalt, D.
PY - 1985
Y1 - 1985
N2 - Although leprosy is increasing in incidence in the United States, it is confined almost entirely to immigrants from developing countries and their close contacts. While the clinical disease has not changed, leprosy has diffused more widely throughout the United States as a result of migration. Primary care physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in foreign-born individuals with skin or peripheral nerve problems. Punch biopsy of skin lesions is the most practical diagnostic method for both the multibacillary and paucibacillary types of leprosy. Because of resistance to dapsone, multi-drug treatment is now the rule; most patients are referred to or managed in consultation with a regional Hansen's disease clinic for long-term treatment. Consultation is available to any physician through the National Hansen's Disease Center in Carville, Louisiana.
AB - Although leprosy is increasing in incidence in the United States, it is confined almost entirely to immigrants from developing countries and their close contacts. While the clinical disease has not changed, leprosy has diffused more widely throughout the United States as a result of migration. Primary care physicians should maintain a high index of suspicion in foreign-born individuals with skin or peripheral nerve problems. Punch biopsy of skin lesions is the most practical diagnostic method for both the multibacillary and paucibacillary types of leprosy. Because of resistance to dapsone, multi-drug treatment is now the rule; most patients are referred to or managed in consultation with a regional Hansen's disease clinic for long-term treatment. Consultation is available to any physician through the National Hansen's Disease Center in Carville, Louisiana.
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U2 - 10.1080/00325481.1985.11698955
DO - 10.1080/00325481.1985.11698955
M3 - Article
C2 - 3983020
AN - SCOPUS:0021992958
SN - 0032-5481
VL - 77
SP - 151
EP - 159
JO - Postgraduate medicine
JF - Postgraduate medicine
IS - 5
ER -