TY - JOUR KW - Differential diagnosis KW - diagnostic errors KW - itching KW - leprosy AU - Silva ACBD AU - Abreu MMMD AU - Gasparin G AU - Angeluci MB AU - Molina JD AU - Tiezzi MG AB - Leprosy is a chronic, curable, infectious granulomatous disease caused by acid-fast bacilli (AFB) from the Mycobacterium leprae complex. Early diagnosis allows for appropriate treatment, preventing transmission and potential neurological sequelae. This report describes a case of a 67-year-old male patient who has presented with complaints of "allergy," experiencing itching in the left upper limb, accompanied by scratches, with skin lesions suggestive of factitious dermatitis. Months after treatment, he developed new ulcerated lesions and was diagnosed, through clinical and histopathological examination, as having dimorphic-Virchowian leprosy. In this sense, the clinical diagnosis of leprosy can be significantly challenging, especially considering its complex pathology, diverse symptoms, delayed progression, and varying immune responses. BT - Brazilian Journal of Health Review DO - 10.34119/bjhrv8n1-026 IS - 1 LA - ENG M3 - Article N2 - Leprosy is a chronic, curable, infectious granulomatous disease caused by acid-fast bacilli (AFB) from the Mycobacterium leprae complex. Early diagnosis allows for appropriate treatment, preventing transmission and potential neurological sequelae. This report describes a case of a 67-year-old male patient who has presented with complaints of "allergy," experiencing itching in the left upper limb, accompanied by scratches, with skin lesions suggestive of factitious dermatitis. Months after treatment, he developed new ulcerated lesions and was diagnosed, through clinical and histopathological examination, as having dimorphic-Virchowian leprosy. In this sense, the clinical diagnosis of leprosy can be significantly challenging, especially considering its complex pathology, diverse symptoms, delayed progression, and varying immune responses. PB - Brazilian Journals PY - 2025 SP - 1 EP - 8 T2 - Brazilian Journal of Health Review TI - Leprosy presenting with pruritus mimicking dermatitits artefacta: understanding the significance of recognizing initial clinical manifestations UR - https://ojs.brazilianjournals.com.br/ojs/index.php/BJHR/article/view/76462/53171 VL - 8 SN - 2595-6825 ER -