Leprosy in pregnancy – a review of the literature

Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is one of the world’s oldest infectiousdiseases. It affects the skin and nerves and, if left untreated,leads to deformity. Every 2 minutes someone is diagnosedwith leprosy, but, because of the lack of education and the stigmasurrounding the disease, some people are diagnosed too late anddevelop life-changing disabilities. Through a simple course ofmedication, leprosy is an entirely curable disease. Literature,such as reported cases and review papers, on leprosy in pregnancywas obtained using various internet search engines. Leprosy inpregnancy is a rarely reported event, but nine countries in Africa,Asia and Latin America have considered it a public health problem.An effective cure for leprosy is available in the form of multidrugtherapy, taken for some months, but if treatment is delayed until alater stage, there is a high risk of disability. Pregnancy is hazardous forwomen with leprosy. It is most dangerous during the third trimesterwhen infection can lead to adverse obstetric and fetal outcomes,such as low birthweight, prematurity, exfoliative dermatitis inthe newborn and erythema nodosum in the pregnant mother.Documentation on leprosy in pregnancy indicates that pregnancyis not only a trigger for leprosy but also an ideal in vivo modelfor research. Leprosy in pregnancy can be treated safely and effectivelyby combined drug therapy. However, early detection, well-plannedhealth education for leprosy patients and the highest standardof clinical supervision during pregnancy are key strategies in reducingproblems associated with the disease and are also the best wayto prevent disability.