01319nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001200059653001900071653000800090653001100098100001400109700001600123700001200139700001400151245008500165856007300250300001000323490000700333050001800340520070500358022001401063       2013                            d  c2013 Nov-Dec10aleprosy10aPaucibacillary10aHIV10aBrazil1 aSilva VPM1 aFonseca HHR1 aSens MM1 aBender AT00aIndeterminate leprosy and lepromatous index case: four cases in the same family.  uhttp://www.scielo.br/pdf/abd/v88n6s1/0365-0596-abd-88-06-s1-0105.pdf  a105-80 v88  aDA SILVA 20133 aLeprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Brazil remains as the country with the second largest number of cases in the world. We report the case of three patients diagnosed with indeterminate leprosy in the same family. Two patients were HIV positive. An active search led to the discovery of the index case. It was crucial to persist in the search of the index case. This report shows how important it is to teach physicians and the general population about the signs and symptoms of leprosy. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to prevent sequelae and to eliminate the disease as a public health problem.  a1806-4841