Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Leprosy pp 185–189Cite as

Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Leprosy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

  • 1492 Accesses

Abstract

At present, neuropathic pain (NP) is a well-recognized sensory manifestation of leprosy that affects approximately 60% of patients during their illness. Despite its high prevalence, the diagnosis of NP is rarely made in clinical practice. Any pain condition due to lesions in the peripheral or central nervous system is considered neuropathic pain. There are many theories about the cause and origin of NP, but little is proven. In the peripheral nervous system there are three common presentations: (1) paresthesia, burning, and continuous pain, (2) paroxysmal pain, and (3) dysesthesia and allodynia. Based on these clinical presentations appropriate treatment must be chosen. In leprosy during reactions the main treatment is steroids. However, when chronic NP develops after reactions and even after treatment, other approaches are needed; they are discussed in this chapter.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Stump RNAG, Baccarelli R, Marciano LHSC et al (2004) Neuropathic pain in leprosy patients. Int J Lepr 72:134–138

    Google Scholar 

  2. Haanpää M, Lockwood DNJ, Hietaharju A (2004) Neuropathic pain in leprosy. Lepr Rev 75:7–18

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. van Brakel WH, Sauderson P, Shetty V et al (2007) International workshop on neuropathology in leprosy—consensus report. Lepr Rev 78:416–433

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Devor M (2001) Neuropathic pain: what do we do with all these theories? Acta Anaesthesiol Scand 45:1121–1127

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Woolf CJ, Salter MW (2000) Neuronal plasticity: increasing the gain in pain. Science 288:1765–1768

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Serra J, Campero M, Bostock H et al (2004) Two types of C nociceptors in human skin and their behavior in areas of capsaicin-induced secondary hyperalgesia. J Neurophysiol 91:2770–2781

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Finnerup NB, Otto M, McQuay HJ et al (2005) Algorithm for neuropathic pain treatment: an evidence based proposal. Pain 218:289–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Geber C, Baumgärtner U, Schwab R et al (2009) Revised definition of neuropathic pain and its grading system: an open case series illustrating its use in clinical practice. Am J Med 122(10 supp):S3–S12

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Garbino JA, Nery JA, Virmond M et al (2004) Hanseníase: Diagnóstico e Tratamento da Neuropatia. Projeto Diretrizes. AMB/CFM–www.amb.org.br

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Neurophysiology and Neuromuscular Diseases—Rehabilitation Branch, Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima, Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil

    José Antônio Garbino

  2. Stichting Polderma Emmeloord/Steenwijk/Urk Regional Dermatology Training Centre (RDTC), at KCMC Moshi Tanzania, Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL) Bauru SP Brasil, Gracht 15, Munnekeburen, Friesland, 8485KN, The Netherlands

    Bernard Naafs

  3. Neurology Department, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Rua São Francisco, 906/703, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90620-070, Brazil

    Pedro Schestatsky

Authors
  1. José Antônio Garbino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bernard Naafs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Pedro Schestatsky
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to José Antônio Garbino .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dipto. Scienze della Salute (DISSAL), Centro per la Ricerca sul Morbo di, Università di Genova, Via Balbi 5, Genova, 16126, Italy

    Enrico Nunzi

  2. Universitätsklinik für Dermatologie und, Venerologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 8, Graz, 8036, Austria

    Cesare Massone

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Garbino, J.A., Naafs, B., Schestatsky, P. (2012). Chronic Neuropathic Pain in Leprosy. In: Nunzi, E., Massone, C. (eds) Leprosy. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2376-5_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2376-5_17

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2375-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2376-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation