02100nas a2200409   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653000900080653002200089653001100111653001000122653002100132653001100153653001100164653002300175653002500198653000900223653001600232653002500248653000900273653003100282100001900313700001700332700001500349700001600364700001600380700001000396700001400406245004200420856004100462300001000503490000700513520115600520022001401676       2004                            d  c2004 Jun10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAged10aAged, 80 and over10aBrazil10aChild10aEndemic Diseases10aFemale10aHumans10aLeprostatic Agents10aLeprosy, Tuberculoid10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aMycobacterium leprae10aPain10aSurveys and Questionnaires1 aStump PR N A G1 aBaccarelli R1 aMarciano L1 aLauris JR P1 aTeixeira MJ1 aUra S1 aVirmond M00aNeuropathic pain in leprosy patients.  uhttp://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v72n2a03.pdf  a134-80 v723 a<p>The introduction of multidrug therapy by the World Health Organization has dramatically reduced the world prevalence of leprosy but the disease is still a public health problem in many countries, with a world prevalence of almost 600,000 cases in 2001. Damage to peripheral nerves is a key component of leprosy and the sensory and motor loss that follows is the basis for many of the classical features of this disease, such as skin wounds, cracks, plantar ulcers, clawed hands, drop foot, and incomplete closure of the eyelids. One of the most remarkable aspects of leprosy to lay persons and health care workers alike is that patients are reputed to feel no pain. However, neuropathic pain is arising as a major problem among leprosy patients. It can be nociceptive due to tissue inflammation, which mostly occurs during episodes of immune activation or neuropathic due to damage or dysfunction of the nervous system. This study, conducted among 358 leprosy patients, reveals a considerable prevalence of neuropathic pain and presents evidence that this common problem should be a high priority of those in charge of leprosy control programs.</p>  a0148-916X