Leprosy in the Modern Age: clinical diagnosis and challenges in the 21st Century

The bacterium Mycobacterium leprae is the source of leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, which is mainly transmitted through person-to-person contact and has a long incubation period of 2–6 years. The disease primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves, often resulting in long-term disability and severe social stigma. The purpose of this review is to provide an up-to-date analysis of leprosy, focusing on recent discoveries in genetics, susceptibility factors, and carriers of the disease. These results have implications for patient outcomes and management of leprosy. Historical diagnostic and therapeutic efforts have focused primarily on adult leprosy, but pediatric leprosy remains understudied. This review aims to fill this gap by providing updated diagnostic and treatment recommendations for adults and children with leprosy. We summarize clinical, bacteriological, and immunological methods for diagnosing leprosy and also consider contemporary issues facing clinicians and patients, including their impact on migration and disease spread. Directions for future research are also highlighted, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to diagnosis and treatment. As advances in knowledge continue to progress, renewed focus on the control, prevention, and eradication of leprosy is critical to improving global health outcomes.