ArticleBMC infectious diseases2026
Delayed diagnosis and poor treatment compliance remain key challenges in leprosy control: a case of lepromatous leprosy with type 2 reaction.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLeprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic granulomatous infection primarily caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Since 2008, Mycobacterium lepromatosis has also been identified as an additional causative pathogen. Without timely treatment, the disease can progress to serious neuropathy and permanent disability. Lepromatous leprosy, the most infectious form, is associated with high bacillary load, systemic involvement, and immune-mediated complications such as type 2 reaction. Treatment with multidrug therapy is effective, but patient non-adherence remains a major challenge to disease control. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report details a 39-year-old unmarried male mechanic from Colombo, Sri Lanka, diagnosed with lepromatous leprosy, characterized by facial skin and earlobe infiltration, madarosis, ichthyosis, saddle nose deformity, symmetrical skin lesions, and peripheral neuropathy. Initially diagnosed in December 2023, the patient defaulted on treatment and returned in June 2025 with worsened symptoms, including grade 2 disability and type 2 reaction. Slit skin smears revealed a persistent bacterial index of + 6, while the morphological index declined from 15% to 2%, suggesting chronic progression. Multidrug therapy was re-initiated, and type 2 reaction was managed with systemic corticosteroids and supportive physiotherapy.
conclusionThis case highlights the severe consequences of multidrug therapy non-adherence in lepromatous leprosy, including progression to type 2 reaction and disability. It reinforces the importance of prompt diagnosis, treatment persistence, patient education, and consistent follow-up to prevent complications, reduce type 2 reaction associated morbidity, and interrupt transmission. Regular follow-up is essential to ensure timely intervention and improved outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.