LAUSR

We read with great interest an article on a case of leprosy in French Polynesia by Musso et al. [1]. It is an important example for discussion because it involves an island with a population around 285 000 [2]. Here we want to add some information that will be of help to the reader, treating physicians, leprologists and the programme officer involved in the National Leprosy Eradication Programme. The individual in was diagnosed with lepromatous leprosy. We strongly feel the case might also be histoid leprosy based on the clinical symptoms and from the illustrations as well as from the histological findings. Whatever the diagnosis, the treatment protocol is the same, comprising the administration of three drugs—rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine— for 12 months as multibacillary multidrug therapy. The patient harboured bacilli in the nasal smear. This was an important finding with a role in further prevention of transmission as well as in finding the hidden cases already infected through droplet exposure. We feel strongly that the patient may be considered as an index case and his close contacts, as well as the household contacts,