The Diagnostic Challenge of Hansen's Disease

Hansen's disease (HD), formerly referred to as leprosy, actively infects more than 250,000 persons worldwide, with over 2 million currently being treated for sequelae. Over 150 cases are annually reported in the U.S. Although transmission of Hansen's disease to military personnel is rare, physicians caring for those who deploy abroad should be aware of the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic aspects of the disease, as well as its implication for continued military service. Additionally, with U.S. involvement in humanitarian efforts abroad, many military physicians will encounter this condition in indigenous populations. Because of its relative rarity in the U.S. and its protean manifestations, diagnosis is generally delayed 6-12 months, leading to potentially irreversible sequelae. Therefore the clinician should be aware of the presentation of HD as well as the key steps to procuring a diagnosis. This paper reports a case of HD encountered in an active duty, native-born U.S. Air Force aviator.