Leprosy-related pain: updates and why it matters
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Evans, Matthew
Pentiado Junior, Jorge Alberto Martins
Kubota, Gabriel Taricani
Rice, Andrew SC
Ciampi de Andrade, Daniel
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Leprosy is a chronic infection that mainly affects the skin and the distal portions of the peripheral nervous system [85]. The latest figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate a continued decline in global leprosy incidence, with 172,717 new cases reported worldwide in 2024 [86]. The highest numbers were observed in India, Brazil, and Indonesia [86]. The reduction in global incidence since the advent of multidrug therapy (MDT) may give the impression that leprosy is under control and that treated patients gradually recover post-MDT discharge. However, many people who have achieved “mycobacteriological cure” continue to accumulate loss of body functions, loss of participation, disability, social stigma and long-term symptoms [52,67,72,83]. Many patients remain highly symptomatic with permanent neurological impairments, chronic neuropathic pain, low quality of life and subject to acute inflammatory exacerbations that may occur even after bacteriological cure [36,37,61,68,71]. This calls for action. This topic review aims to summarize current knowledge on the diagnosis and management of leprosy-related pain, a prototypical yet often overlooked sequela of the disease, and to outline priorities for action in the long-term follow-up of individuals within a comprehensive, multidisciplinary framework.
Date Issued
2026-06-01
Date Acceptance
2025-12-14
Citation
Pain, 2026, 167 (6), pp.1263-1270
ISSN
0304-3959
Publisher
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Start Page
1263
End Page
1270
Journal / Book Title
Pain
Volume
167
Issue
6
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2026 International Association for the Study of Pain. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2026-03-23