Leprosy in Malta: not to be forgotten

Leprosy is a granulomatous infection that was considered endemic in Malta up until being declared eradicated in 1999 thanks to the Malta Leprosy Eradication Programme. However, leprosy remains endemic in a number of low-to-middle income countries, and may be imported to non-endemic regions like Malta by migrants. We report a case of a man from the Philippines presenting with nodular lesions over the face, trunk and limbs and a hypoaesthetic patch over the arm. A skin biopsy supported the clinical suspicion of midline borderline/borderline lepromatous leprosy and triple therapy with clofazimine, dapsone and rifampicin was initiated. Despite having a wide clinical differential diagnosis, leprosy must always be kept in mind by clinicians, especially when treating nationals from endemic areas.