[Hansen's disease: its image, education, integration and physician-patient relationship]

Although still used in fund raising campaigns, the serious aspects of hanseniasis are less common now, thanks to early diagnosis and treatment. This new image of hanseniasis should be propagated by health education, especially directed to patients and contacts. Integration should refer not only to hanseniasis but also to leprologists, who became also "segregated", due to the pejorative "leprosy". The good relationship with the patient depends on the psychological capacity of the physician, revealed as soon as the diagnosis of the disease is made.