Hansen’s Disease (eBook)

Hansen's disease (leprosy) is endemic in more than 100 countries worldwide, with over 200,000 new diagnoses each year and more than 4 million people living with some form of HD-related impairment. The World Health Organization's 'Global Leprosy Strategy' timeline for Hansen's disease elimination indicates that it will be encountered in clinical practice in endemic countries for at least another decade. Increasing north-to-south migration, global travel and overseas medical work mean that physicians in non-endemic countries will also encounter patients with Hansen's disease, which can affect people for many years before diagnosis and after treatment. For busy clinicians, it represents a challenge, in terms of disease learning and updating knowledge and skills.

This book provides a concise, up-to-date, and comprehensive source of information on Hansen's disease clinical practice. It covers essential topics on all clinical aspects, complemented by history, epidemiology, paleopathology, and the social impact of the disease. Edited and written by contributors with decades of experience, it's divided into twenty-six chapters clarifying the genetics and neurological manifestations, physical disabilities and its prevention; oral, ophthalmological, and bone changes, among others.

For the primary audience of practicing physicians, it is an affordable point of reference, whilst also being suitable for student and trainee doctors. It's also accessible to general practitioners and specialists in dermatology, neurology, pediatrics, infectious disease, family and community medicine, and orthopedics, as well as to non-specialists and other healthcare professionals.

EDITOR

Professor Patrícia D. Deps is a physician specializing in dermatology and Hansen's disease and Professor at the Department of Social Medicine, from Federal University of Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil. She is member of the following medical societies: Brazilian Society of Dermatology; Brazilian Society of Hansenology; European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology; Sociétè Française de Dermatologie. Dr. Deps holds a Master's degree in Infectious Diseases (UFES, 1998) and a Ph.D. in Dermatology (UNIFESP, 2003). She undertook post-doctoral training in Tropical Dermatology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (2008) and in Medical Anthropology at the Université Versailles Saint-Quintin-en-Yvelines (2018/2019). She is active in the fields of Hansen's disease, clinical and tropical dermatology, public health, medical history and ethics, paleopathology, anthropology, and medical education, and teaches medical and postgraduate students at UFES. Professor Deps has written and published peer-reviewed scientific articles, a bilingual book 'The day I changed my name - Hansen's disease and stigma' (Édition de Boccard, Paris, 2019), and literary works. She is Vice-President for the Americas in the International Leprosy Association (2023-2026), member of the Scientific Review Committee of the Leprosy Research Initiative (2020-2024), member of the World Health Organization, Technical Advisory Group-Leprosy (2022-2025), Global Leprosy Programme, and Technical Adviser. 

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Professor Marcos Cesar Florian is a physician specializing in dermatology and Hansen's disease. He has been member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology since 1995 and of the Brazilian Society of Hansenology since 2001. Dr. Marcos holds Master's and PhD in Dermatology (Federal University of São Paulo). He is Affiliate Professor of Department of Dermatology at Federal University of Sao Paulo and Professor of Medicine at University Nove de Julho. He is member of the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of São Paulo. Professor Florian is active in the following areas: Hansen's disease, skin diseases and immunodepression, clinical and tropical dermatology, diseases in indigenous populations, dermatology in primary care, and medical education. He has published several peer-reviewed scientific articles and the book 'Dermatological Atlas - Indigenous People' (Springer, 2017).

Professor Marcos da Cunha Lopes Virmond is a physician specializing in reconstructive plastic surgery and Hansen's disease, and teaches medical and postgraduate students at FOB-USP. He is former President of the Brazilian Society of Hansenology and of the International Leprosy Association, and former director of the Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima (ILSL). Professor Virmond holds a PhD in Surgery (State University of Sao Paulo) and is member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery. He has experience in the field of Hansenology, working mainly in the areas of rehabilitation, public health, restorative surgery, epidemiology, and disabilities. He is former editor of the journals Salusvita and Mimesis. Dr. Virmond also holds a PhD in music and teaches and researches musicology.