Investigation of neuropathic pain in treated leprosy patients in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.

Pain can be a significant problem for treated leprosy patients. It can be nociceptive due to tissue inflammation occurring during episodes of immune mediated reactions, or neuropathic due to leprosy affecting the somatosensory system. There are sparse epidemiological data on the prevalence and impact of neuropathic pain in treated leprosy patients.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia in a 29 years old Ethiopian patient, diagnosed using clinicopathologic correlation.

We report a case of Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia in a 29 years old female Ethiopian patient. This case was diagnosed by establishing a clinicopathologic correlation. This is the first case of its kind ever reported in Ethiopia.

Disseminated form of syringoma (eruptive syringoma) sparing the face-a rare presentation causing diagnostic challenge.

Syringomas are benign neoplasms of the skin commonly appearing around the eye lids. Though common in middle-aged women, it affects all age groups. The lesions are asymptomatic, firm, discrete, translucent or skin colored flat-topped papules.

Neuropathic pain in people treated for multibacillary leprosy more than ten years previously.

Objectives: To identify patients with typical symptoms of neuropathic pain in a well-defined cohort of multibacillary patients being followed up as part of a relapse study in Ethiopia; to identify risk factors for the development of neuropathic pain.

Design: 96 patients who had completed MDT more than 10 years previously participated in the study, through a questionnaire.

Results: 28 (29%) had symptoms of neuropathic pain and it was reported as severe in 12.

Effect of thalidomide on the expression of TNF-alpha m-RNA and synthesis of TNF-alpha in cells from leprosy patients with reversal reaction.

Hypersensitivity reactions called reversal reaction (RR) and erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) occur in leprosy. They are characterized by an increase in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Thalidomide is an effective treatment for ENL but not RR.

Prevalence of mental distress in the outpatient clinic of a specialized leprosy hospital. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2002.

Leprosy is a chronic disease that leads to physical disability as a result of nerve damage. Stigma and associated psychosocial problems are common and may increase the risk of mental disorders. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of mental distress amongst people attending a Specialized Leprosy and Dermatology Hospital, ALERT, Addis Ababa.