World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific

Leprosy elimination

Recognizing leprosy


A case of leprosy is a person having one or more of the following, who has yet to complete a full course of treatment:

  • hypopigmented or reddish skin lesions with definite loss of sensation

  • damage to the peripheral nerves, as demonstrated by loss of sensation and weakness of the muscles of hands, feet or face

  • positive skin smear.


Leprosy patches
can be raised...


flat ...


... or reddish in colour



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