02180nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001260002300042653002800065653002400093653001900117653003700136653001200173100001200185700001200197700001700209700001900226700001500245700001600260245010900276856009000385490000700475520143000482022001401912       2024                            d  bFrontiers Media SA10aArtificial Intelligence10aHansens’s disease10aDigital health10aSkin neglected tropical diseases10aleprosy1 aDeps PD1 aYotsu R1 aFurriel BCRS1 ade Oliveira BD1 ade Lima SL1 aLoureiro RM00aThe potential role of artificial intelligence in the clinical management of Hansen’s disease (leprosy)  uhttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1338598/full0 v113 a<p>Missed and delayed diagnoses of Hansen’s disease (HD) are making the battle against it even more complex, increasing its transmission and significantly impacting those affected and their families. This strains public health systems and raises the risk of lifelong impairments and disabilities. Worryingly, the three countries most affected by HD witnessed a growth in new cases in 2022, jeopardizing the World Health Organization’s targets to interrupt transmission. Artificial intelligence (AI) can help address these challenges by offering the potential for rapid case detection, customized treatment, and solutions for accessibility challenges—especially in regions with a shortage of trained healthcare professionals. This perspective article explores how AI can significantly impact the clinical management of HD, focusing on therapeutic strategies. AI can help classify cases, ensure multidrug therapy compliance, monitor geographical treatment coverage, and detect adverse drug reactions and antimicrobial resistance. In addition, AI can assist in the early detection of nerve damage, which aids in disability prevention and planning rehabilitation. Incorporating AI into mental health counseling is also a promising contribution to combating the stigma associated with HD. By revolutionizing therapeutic approaches, AI offers a holistic solution to reduce the burden of HD and improve patient outcomes.</p>
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