Leprosy: A Practical Guide

A highly disabling infectious disease in developing countries, leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, and is still very relevant for the human community due to its transmissible nature, variable presentation and composite clinical picture. Early identification of leprosy and Buruli ulcer (also caused by a Mycobacterium, M. ulcerans) is critical to prevent spreading and patient disability and to establish appropriate therapy.

This richly illustrated, completely revised second edition of Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer describes the characteristic signs of both these diseases, and contents include abnormalities of the skin, nerves, eyes, hands, feet, testes and bone. It also presents the latest diagnostic tools to identify and quantify organ damage to enable readers to recognize and treat this composite systemic disorder, which can represent a true medical emergency if affecting eyes, nerves, and kidneys. Further, it includes additional chapters on leprosy in childhood, prophylaxis and vaccines. For both leprosy and Buruli ulcer, this handy guide helps practitioners and nursing personnel to spot the different clinical manifestations, make a prompt diagnosis and apply effective treatment of both these diseases.

Professor Enrico Nunzi graduated with honors and specialized in dermatology and syphilography, medical microbiology, dermatology and tropical medicine at the University of Genoa (Italy). He has been Director of the Institute of Dermatology at Loja Technical University Hospital (Ecuador) since 2012. Before that he was Director of the Social Dermatology Unit at S.Martino Hospital and of the Skin Immunopathology Service. Author of over 130 publications in Italian and Spanish, he has worked for the governmental health services of the Democratic Republic of Congo as the Medical Director of the health sector at Kimbau Hospital, as a Research Fellow at the Dermatology Department of the University of Amsterdam, and as Director of the Genoa University Postgrad School of Leprology and Tropical Dermatology.

Cesare Massone is an Associate Professor of Dermatology and Venereology, and Medical Director of the Dermatology Unit-Ospedali Galliera in Genova, Italy. After graduating with honors and receiving board certification, he was made an Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Medical University of Graz. His areas of research interest include dermoscopy and melanoma, cutaneous lymphomas, leprosy & tropical dermatology, psoriasis & biologicals therapies, dermatopathology, and teledermatology. Dr. Massone is the author of over 200 publications, including books (WoS HI 34). Regularly presenting at international congresses, he was awarded the Pathnet grant from the French Ministry for Research, and the AESCA Award of the Austrian Society of Dermatology in 2005.

Professor Françoise Portaels was Head of the Mycobacteriology Unit, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (Belgium). Her areas of expertise include microbiology and epidemiology. She is a Professor Emeritus of the Free University of Brussels (VUB), Belgium and of the Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium and has a extensive experience in teaching and heading lab research. Member of various academies and societies, including the  International Union Against Tuberculosis (UNION), Belgian Royal Academy of Medicine, Belgian Royal Academy of Oversees Sciences and the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. She was awarded the Follereau-Damien and the American Society of Tropical Medicine prizes. She has authored over 400 publications and edited 5 books (WoS HI 32), and has participated in countless field activities, international courses and missions.