🦠 What is Leprosy?
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🦠 What is Leprosy?
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract.
It spreads through droplets from the nose or mouth of untreated individuals, but it’s not highly contagious and is completely curable with proper treatment.
🧬 Symptoms of Leprosy
| System Affected | Symptoms |
|---|---|
| Skin | Pale or reddish patches with loss of sensation, nodules, thick/dry skin |
| Nerves | Numbness, tingling, muscle weakness, paralysis |
| Eyes | Dry eyes, eye pain, potential blindness |
| Others | Nosebleeds, facial disfigurement (in severe, untreated cases) |
💊 Standard Treatment: Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT)
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides free MDT globally.
| Type of Leprosy | Duration | Drugs Used |
|---|---|---|
| Paucibacillary (PB) | 6 months | Rifampicin + Dapsone |
| Multibacillary (MB) | 12 months | Rifampicin + Dapsone + Clofazimine |
📌 All drugs are taken orally, usually once per month under supervision, and daily at home.
💥 Supportive Treatments
| Support | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Anti-inflammatory drugs | To manage nerve pain or leprosy reactions (e.g., Prednisone) |
| Wound care | To treat ulcers or infections caused by nerve damage |
| Rehabilitation | Physiotherapy, reconstructive surgery, and disability prevention |
| Eye care | Lubricants or surgery to prevent vision loss |
🛡️ Prevention & Control
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Early diagnosis is key to stopping transmission.
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Household contacts are monitored.
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BCG vaccine (used for TB) offers partial protection.
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A single-dose rifampicin prophylaxis can be given to contacts in some programs.
⚠️ Important Notes
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Leprosy is not hereditary.
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Isolation is rarely necessary — patients become non-infectious after just one dose of MDT.
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Stigma remains a major issue, despite its curability.
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