Leprosy

What is leprosy?

Leprosy is a contagious skin disease that manifests as severe skin ulcerations that might lead to muscle weakness and damage to the nerves of arms, legs, and skin.

What are the types of leprosy?

• Tuberculoid leprosy
  • Develops as a spot or few spots on the skin, which become pale and crustacean-shaped.
  • Causes damage to the nerves under the skin, leading to numbness.
  • This type of leprosy may be the least common among the others.
• Lepromatous leprosy
  • A severe form that spreads as a rash over large areas of the skin, accompanied by numbness and muscle weakness.
  • May exacerbate and affect the nose, kidneys, and male reproductive system.
  • It is the most contagious form of the disease.
• Borderline leprosy
  • Patients may suffer symptoms of the above two types.

What are the causes of leprosy?

The disease is caused by Mycobacterium Leprae bacteria, transmitted through contact with mucous secretions of an infected person during:

• Sneezing
• Coughing

Leprosy does not spread through casual contact such as:

• Handshaking
• Hugging
• Sitting next to each other
• Sexual intercourse

What are the risk factors for leprosy?

Individuals at greater risk include:

• Those living in areas with unclean water.
• People in areas where malnutrition is common.
• Individuals with diseases that weaken the immune system.

There is a correlation between HIV and leprosy incidence. Genetic predisposition also plays a role.

What are the symptoms of leprosy?

Leprosy mainly affects the skin and nerves but not the brain or spinal cord.

Main symptoms include:

• Loss of sensation in arms and legs.
• Muscle weakness.
• Skin irritations that weaken the immune system.

The bacteria develop slowly, and symptoms may appear within a year or as late as 20 years after exposure.

Diagnosis of leprosy

• Diagnosis begins with observing a skin rash.
• Laboratory tests detect bacteria growing on the skin.
• A skin biopsy or swab test may be conducted.

What are the complications of leprosy?

• Blindness
• Irreversible skin deformity
• Renal failure
• Muscle weakness (inability to flex hands and feet)
• Permanent nasal damage
• Permanent peripheral neuropathy (burns, wounds, amputations)

Preventive measures against leprosy

• Avoid contact with body fluids of infected patients.
• Avoid contact with armadillos.

Therapeutic measures for leprosy

• Treatment depends on the type of the disease.
• Most cases are treated with medicine prescribed by the doctor.