Her medical history indicated that her symptoms started five years ago, with cramping and spasms of her arms. She noted that her wrists felt like they were falling asleep at times, along with needle-like pain that would occasionally erupt. Additionally, she reported a significant amount of fatigue and stress. The patient’s medical record indicated a diagnosis with depression; her initial visits for the skin condition included initial diagnoses of atopic dermatitis and urticaria before the biopsy was taken. The patient was prescribed ibuprofen, fluoxetine and hydroxyzine.
During the course of the interview, the patient revealed that she had worked with flowers extensively several years ago while in the United States, which presents a possible exposure to the M. leprae bacterium; furthermore, she reported that armadillos were endemic in her home in South America and that her family kept a variety of household pets such as dogs and birds. The interview was unable to determine if any other family members, locally or out-of-state, had similar dermatological complaints; however, her infant reportedly had a fungal infection suggesting potential infection of the child.