Reactional episodes in leprosy

Abstract

Reactional episodes are acute inflammatory reactions that suddenly appear on the chronic evolution of the leprosy disease. Currently these reactions represent a located or systemic exacerbation of the inflammatory reaction that can reach peripheral nerves, inducing a very painful situation which must be conducted with special care. The leprosy reactions are classified as Type1 Reaction or Reversal Reaction (RR) and Type2 Reaction or Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL). The clinical and laboratories characteristics of these reactions, the diagnostic criteria and the main differences between the RR and ENL were presented, followed by the presentation of the approval conducts for the management of clinical alterations and the therapeutics ons for the two types of leprosy reactions.