IAL Textbook of Leprosy

The book covers all possible aspects of leprosy, tracing its history, epidemiology, immunogenetics, bacteriology of Mycobacterium leprae, immunology, pathology, mechanisms of nerve damage, disease classification, clinical and laboratory diagnosis, differential diagnosis, chemotherapy, lepra reactions, neuritis and their management, National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP) and future prospects.

Key Features :

• Includes chapters related to basics of history taking and techniques of clinical and nerve examination, ocular leprosy, vaccines (immunoprophylaxis, immunotherapy), chemoprophylaxis, deformities and their management, recording and assessment of nerve involvement and experimental leprosy.
• Covers special situations, viz., leprosy in children, pregnancy, leprosy associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), immune-compromised hosts including corona virus disease (COVID-19) and issues related to community-based rehabilitation, psychosocial aspects, stigma, and migration.
• Presents lucid and comprehensive information, and clinical pictures/images which will help to diagnose leprosy even in low endemic situations.
• Discusses problems of drug resistance, relapse, challenges and scenario beyond 2030. Highlights the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the leprosy control programs. The case histories give a reassuring and encouraging picture which adds to the optimism and presents a new face of leprosy considering the achievements in control of leprosy.
• Contains the most up-to-date and comprehensive material contributed by 87 acclaimed experts of national and international repute.
• Photo gallery gives good visual impression of how the disease looks in different shades of skin color.
• Improves the diagnostic accuracy with the help of more than 530 figures, 130 tables and graphs that capture the presentation of leprosy in practice.
• Enhances clinical and therapeutic knowledge with the latest on diagnosis and other research areas in leprosy.