Case Report: A 24-Year-Old Male Patient with Multibacillary Hansen’s Disease

Abstract

Hansen’s disease (leprosy) is a chronic infectious condition caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the peripheral nerves, skin, and various organs except the central nervous system. The disease is classified into two types Paucibacillary (PB) and Multibacillary (MB) based on the number of skin lesions and the extent of nerve involvement. This case report aims to describe the diagnosis and management of Hansen’s disease in a young adult patient. A 24-year-old male presented with nail fragility and damage on the right hand that had progressed over the past five months. Physical examination revealed a mildly ill appearance, compos mentis consciousness, blood pressure of 120/70 mmHg, pulse rate of 92 beats/minute, respiratory rate of 20 breaths/minute, and body temperature of 36.8°C. Head examination showed eyebrow loss (+/+) and cauliflower ear (+/+). Thoracic and abdominal examinations were unremarkable. Examination of the extremities was within normal limits. Dermatological assessment identified multiple well-defined erythematous nodules in the right metacarpal region and multiple yellow-brown crusted lesions with irregular margins and rough surfaces on the distal phalanges of digits III–V of the right hand. Bacterioscopic evaluation revealed acid-fast bacilli (AFB) +2. The patient was treated with Multibacillary Multidrug Therapy (MB-MDT), consisting of rifampicin 600 mg monthly, clofazimine 300 mg monthly, and dapsone 100 mg monthly on day 1, followed by daily clofazimine 50 mg and dapsone 100 mg on days 2–28.