Three patients in a Chinese family with hereditary sensory neuropathy mimicking leprosy

Abstract

Hereditary sensory neuropathy (HSN) is a rare disorder of peripheral sensory neurons. It was also known as hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy. It is characterised by a chronic clinical evolution with ulcerations, loss of sensation and destruction of terminal digits of feet and hands. It usually begins in childhood. Symptoms start with inflamed fingers or toes especially around the nails. The loss of sensation in hands and feet often leads to neglect of the wounds and at last leading to amputation in extreme cases. Due to the genetic pattern of inheritance, children in a family are affected by the disease one by one in a cluster pattern. Sometimes, health workers can confuse it with leprosy in the field. We report three patients in one family with hereditary sensory neuropathy which mimicked leprosy.