TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - Chapter 271. Leprosy A1 - Meyers, Wayne M. A1 - Walsh, Douglas S. A1 - Portaels, FrançOise A2 - Rudolph, Colin D. A2 - Rudolph, Abraham M. A2 - Lister, George E. A2 - First, Lewis R. A2 - Gershon, Anne A. PY - 2011 T2 - Rudolph's Pediatrics, 22e AB - Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast bacillus (AFB). It was first recognized by Hansen in 1873 in Bergen, Norway, while examining smears from lepromas of Norwegian patients. Notably, the organism was the first reported bacterium causing chronic disease in humans that principally affects the cooler parts of the body, especially the skin, upper respiratory tract, testes, eyes, and superficial segments of peripheral nerves.1,2 The stigma suffered by patients with leprosy has historically been severe. For a review of the history of leprosy refer to the electronic text. Because of the stigma of leprosy, the physician must carefully consider the social implications of a diagnosis of leprosy, especially in children. SN - PB - The McGraw-Hill Companies CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/03/28 UR - accesspediatrics.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=7026358 ER -