Author
Home > Health > What is the Difference Between Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy?

Guilherme Mazui

•4 minutes to read

What is the Difference Between Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy?

🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚

Buruli ulcer and leprosy are both disfiguring diseases of the skin that can lead to disability and stigma. They are caused by different bacteria: Buruli ulcer is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, while leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Although they share similarities, there are key differences between the two diseases:

  • Causative Organisms: Buruli ulcer is caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, which belongs to the same family of bacteria that cause tuberculosis and leprosy. Leprosy, on the other hand, is caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
  • Symptoms: Buruli ulcer often starts as a painless swelling (nodule), a large painless area of induration (plaque), or a diffuse painless swelling of the legs, arms, or face (edema). The disease may progress with no pain and fever. Without treatment or sometimes during antibiotics treatment, the nodule, plaque, or edema will ulcerate within 4 weeks. Leprosy, however, presents with a wide range of symptoms, including skin lesions, nerve damage, and muscle weakness.
  • Transmission: The exact mode of transmission of M. ulcerans is still unknown. For leprosy, transmission is thought to occur through respiratory droplets, with a long incubation period before the onset of symptoms.
  • Treatment: Buruli ulcer is usually treated with a combination of rifampin and streptomycin, sometimes with surgery. Leprosy treatment involves multidrug therapy (MDT), which includes rifampin, dapsone, and clofazimine.

Despite these differences, both diseases require long courses of medications and wound care, and the risk of transmission is minimal. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing long-term disability in both Buruli ulcer and leprosy patients.

On this page
  • What is the Difference Between Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy?
  • Comparative Table: Buruli Ulcer vs Leprosy

    • Comparative Table: Buruli Ulcer vs Leprosy

    Buruli ulcer and leprosy are both disfiguring skin diseases that can lead to disability and stigma. They are caused by Mycobacterium species, with Mycobacterium ulcerans causing Buruli ulcer and Mycobacterium leprae causing leprosy. Here is a table highlighting the differences between the two diseases:

    Feature Buruli Ulcer Leprosy
    Causative Agent Mycobacterium ulcerans Mycobacterium leprae
    Geography Mainly found in tropical regions of West and Central Africa, Australia, and Japan Found in 90 countries, especially Brazil, India, and parts of Africa
    Age Predilection Primarily affects children aged 5-15 years Affects all age groups, but more prominent in adults
    Clinical Presentation Begins as a painless dermal papule or subcutaneous edematous nodule, eventually breaking down to form an extensive necrotic ulcer with undermined edges Characterized by skin lesions, nerve damage, and muscle weakness, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe
    Treatment Treatment includes a prolonged course of antibiotics and surgical debridement Treatment involves a combination of antibiotics and other therapies, depending on the severity of the disease
    Prevention Strategies Combining control and prevention strategies for both diseases in endemic countries is suggested due to their similarities Control and prevention strategies vary depending on the disease, but combining efforts for both diseases in endemic countries could be beneficial

    Efforts to care for people affected by these diseases usually have a single-disease focus, but given their overlapping geographical distribution and similarities in clinical presentation, combining control and prevention strategies in endemic countries is suggested.

    Read more:

    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.