SARS-Cov-2 Infection Uncovering Latent Mycobacterium Leprae Infection
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Keywords
Mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium, Leprosy, COVID, COVID-19, SARS-Cov-2, Leonine facies, Hansen's disease
Abstract
Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It can remain dormant in a patient without any symptoms until triggered by a stressor on the body. During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a significant amount of emotional and psychological stress was endured by patients. In addition, many patients experienced exacerbations of their preexisting conditions. Few reports have described cases of leprosy with concurrent COVID-19. This brief article presents a case of newly diagnosed leprosy in a middle-aged male following a COVID-19 infection. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of its kind in the United States.
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Christopher Mancuso, DO, MHS, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
Department of Dermatology, PGY-3Paloma Reiter, DO, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
Department of Dermatology, PGY-4Regina Zambrano, DO, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
Department of Family Medicine, PGY-1
Ritu Saini, MD, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
Department of DermatologySuzanne Sirota-Rozenberg, DO, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital
Department of Dermatology, Chair of Dermatology & Program Director