A rare case of type 1 leprosy reactions following tetanus infection in a borderline tuberculoid leprosy patient and a literature review.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 leprosy reaction, also known as "reversal reaction", is related to cellular immune responses to Mycobacterium leprae antigens. The risk factors that trigger type 1 leprosy reactions are poorly understood. Leprosy with concurrent tetanus is rare, and there are no publicly available reports of a leprosy patient infected with tetanus that induced type 1 leprosy reactions. CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old Chinese Han female presented to our hospital with symptoms of erythematous plaques and pain over her left upper limb for 2 days and foreign object sensation in her throat for 3 days. The patient had a 6-year history of leprosy. Type 1 leprosy reactions were initially considered, followed by treatment with methylprednisolone. Two days later, the patient's symptoms were aggravated, with neck muscle tension and difficulty in opening her mouth, and the erythematous plaques had spread over most of her left upper limb. After further careful examinations, we confirmed the diagnosis of tetanus with concurrent type 1 leprosy reactions. The patient was given anti-tetanus treatment for 12 days and anti-leprosy reaction treatment for 4 months; the diseases were eventually controlled. CONCLUSIONS: This report suggests that tetanus infection may be a trigger for type 1 leprosy reactions.

Rabies, tetanus, leprosy, and malaria.

The developing world is still endemic to rabies, tetanus, leprosy, and malaria. Globally more than 55000 people die of rabies each year, about 95% in Asia and Africa. Annually, more than 10 million people, mostly in Asia, receive postexposure vaccination against the disease. World Health Organization estimated tetanus-related deaths at 163000 in 2004 worldwide. Globally, the annual detection of new cases of leprosy continues to decline and the global case detection declined by 3.54% during 2008 compared to 2007. Malaria is endemic in most countries, except the US, Canada, Europe, and Russia. Malaria accounts for 1.5-2.7 million deaths annually. Much of the disease burden related to these four infections is preventable.

Tetanus in leprosy patient (II).

Leprosy patients are protected from tetanus due to acquired natural immunity against tetanus. The incidence of tetanus in Leprosy is very low. A case of Indeterminate Leprosy developing tetanus following injury and terminating fatally is presented.

Tetanus in patient with lepromatous leprosy (I).

Tetanus in lepromatous leprosy is rare and reported occasionally as case reports only. We present a case of lepromatous leprosy who succumbed to death due to rapidly progressing tetanus. The mechanism of protection from tetanus in leprosy is discussed.

Tetanus in leprosy patients: report of five cases.

It has long been noted that tetanus is rare in leprosy patients. Five cases of tetanus are reported in leprosy patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Although natural immunity to tetanus occurs and this appears to be higher in leprosy patients than in the general population, it is not completely protective. Further research on the relationship between tetanus and leprosy is indicated. Although firm epidemiologic data are lacking, it is prudent to give leprosy patients at least one dose of tetanus toxoid.

Tetanus infection in patients with leprosy.

The incidence of death from tetanus in leprosy patients has been compared with the general population. It appears that tetanus occurs less often among leprosy patients. The pathogenesis and the consequences of this are discussed.