Hanseníase: Revisão Para o Neurologista Hanseniasis: Review for the Neurologist

Hansen's disease (leprosy) is a chronic, endemic infectious disease, caused by M. leprae, and a problem of Public Health in many countries, like Brazil. Most often involves the skin and peripheral nerves, with a broad range of clinical presentations, which may acquire clinical and immunological aspects at each pole. Sometimes this can lead to disabilities and morbidity characterized by the historical stigma typical to leprosy, that persists nowadays in spite of new treatments (polychemotherapy) and cure. Leprosy reactions are considered acute and inflammatory complications that may occur before, during and/or after specific treatment.