Challenges in Diagnosing Leprosy Mimicking Tinea Versicolor
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32734/sumej.v9i2.25140Keywords:
leprosy, multibacillary, tinea versicolor, multidrug therapy, misdiagnosed caseAbstract
Background: Leprosy is a significant concern within the medical fraternity due to its enduring prevalence across various countries. It is frequently misdiagnosed due to its clinical presentation, which can closely resemble that of tinea versicolor. Objective: This case report highlights a 26-year-old Orang Asli woman from Pekan, Pahang, who exhibited multiple hypopigmented lesions on her right flank for 1 year. Initially misdiagnosed as tinea versicolor by a general practitioner, her condition showed no improvement despite appropriate antifungal treatment. The patient’s history revealed close contact with persons with leprosy, and she resides in an endemic area. Methods: A clinical assessment was conducted, including medical history, contact history, and physical examination. A slit-skin smear was performed to establish the diagnosis. Results: A skin slit smear was performed, which yielded positive results and confirmed multibacillary leprosy. Consequently, multidrug therapy was promptly initiated in the primary care clinic. The lesions improved, indicating a positive response to multidrug therapy (MDT). Conclusion: This case underscores the critical importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for leprosy in endemic regions, particularly when patients present with lesions that may masquerade as other dermatological conditions.
Downloads
References
[1] Scollard DM. Leprosy: current status and future challenges. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2021;34(1):e00079-19.
[2] World Health Organization. Global leprosy (Hansen disease) update, 2022: new paradigm control to elimination. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2023;98(36):389-406.
[3] Lockwood DNJ, Lambert SM. Human immunology of leprosy. Clin Exp Immunol. 2020;200(3):241-251.
[4] Nogueira LS, et al. Leprosy misdiagnosis: a persistent challenge in non-endemic and endemic areas. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(4):e0009355.
[5] Kundakci N, Erdem C. Leprosy: a great imitator. Clin Dermatol. 2022;40(1):64-70.
[6] Htoon MT, et al. Delayed diagnosis of leprosy and the role of health systems in endemic areas. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2021;15(9):e0009700.
[7] Ministry of Health Malaysia. Clinical practice guidelines: management of leprosy. 3rd ed. Putrajaya: Ministry of Health Malaysia; 2023.
[8] Leung AKC, Barankin B, Lam JM, Leong KF, Hon KL. Leprosy. Drugs Context. 2022;11:2022-9-2.
[9] Sermrittirong S, Van Brakel WH. Stigma in leprosy: concepts, causes and determinants. Lepr Rev. 2021;92(1):23-35.
[10] Rawson TM, et al. Leprosy and stigma: consequences for diagnosis and public health control. Lancet Infect Dis. 2022;22(4):e111-e118.
[11] World Health Organization. Global leprosy (Hansen disease) update, 2020: impact of COVID-19 on global leprosy control. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. 2021;96(36):421-444.
[12] Su R, et al. Advances in early diagnosis and management of leprosy. Infect Dis Poverty. 2023.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sumatera Medical Journal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The Authors submitting a manuscript do so on the understanding that if accepted for publication, copyright of the article shall be assigned to Sumatera Medical Journal (SUMEJ) and Faculty of Medicine as well as TALENTA Publisher Universitas Sumatera Utara as publisher of the journal.
Copyright encompasses exclusive rights to reproduce and deliver the article in all form and media. The reproduction of any part of this journal, its storage in databases and its transmission by any form or media, will be allowed only with a written permission from Sumatera Medical Journal (SUMEJ).
The Copyright Transfer Form can be downloaded here.
The copyright form should be signed originally and sent to the Editorial Office in the form of original mail or scanned document.
