Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease
that is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae
. It affects the skin
, mucosa of the upper respiratory
system and eyes
, peripheral nerves
, and some other structures. The incubation
period varies from three months to 40 years.
Transmission is thought to occur through inhalation
factors such as unhygienic and crowded living conditions contribute to the spread of the disease. Malnutrition
and a weak immune
system also favor infection
Leprosy takes on two forms. Multibacillary leprosy occurs in patients with immune deficiencies. In this form, patient
s have numerous shiny
ing reddish nodules, tumour
s and raised patches with sloping edges. There is no sensory
loss in the affected parts of the body, but skin smears are always positive for bacilli. Unless treated with multiple drug therapy
, persons suffering from multibacillary leprosy constitute the principal
source of infection. In such persons the bacilli multiply almost unchecked.
The damage that the bacilli cause to the peripheral nerve
s leads to numb
weakness or even paralysis
(with consequent claw
hand or foot drop), and dry skin. Because of the loss of sensation
the patient fails to notice an injury
. Injuries easily result in infection
s which lead in turn to ulcer
s that damage the dermal tissue
s and bone
s with the consequent loss of extremities (toe
s and finger
s) or secondary deformities. This happens in an estimated 25% of cases that are not treated at an early stage of the disease.
The second form of the disease is paucibacillary leprosy, which occurs in those with a stronger immune system. This latter form is relatively harmless
and as a rule non-infectious. The most frequent
form of leprosy, it accounts for between 70 and 80 percent of all cases. The typical signs are flat or slightly raised patches on the skin - usually single but at most three, well demarcated, non-itching, and hypopigmented or reddish. Patients feel nothing in the affected area. This sensory
loss is very important for diagnosis
because bacilli are often undetectable in skin smears.
Leprosy has afflicted humanity
. It once affected every continent
and it has left behind a terrifying image in history and human memory
- of mutilation
(and for the anti-socialites, yes, that last one is supposed to be a bad thing). Leprosy has struck fear into human beings for thousands of years, and was well recognized in the oldest civilizations of China
. A cumulative
total of the number of individual
s who, over the millennia, have suffered its chronic course of incurable disfigure
ment and physical disabilities can never be calculated.
The ancient Greek
s and Roman
s learned painful lessons about leprosy after their armies returned victorious
—unwittingly bringing back the previously unknown affliction
with their plunder
. In the Middle Ages
, sufferers had to wear special clothing, ring bell
s to warn others that they were close, and walk on a particular
side of the road, depending on the direction of the wind
Dr. Armauer Hansen first discovered the leprosy bacillus in Norway
in 1873. He is credited with identifying one of the first bacteria known to be a human pathogen
. Today, leprosy is often called Hansen's disease.
Leprosy is still extant
today. Most cases are located in Asia. There are 700,000 new cases every year worldwide
, with 200 of those cases in the United States
. Rate of occurrence
has declined steadily over the past few decades. Leprosy is rarely the cause of death in a patient, but many patients die from complication
s. The rate of mortality
for people suffering from leprosy is estimated to be about four times that of the normal population
The current recommended course of treatment is rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone for multibacillary leprosy (MB) leprosy patients and rifampicin and dapsone for paucibacillary leprosy (PB) patients. This is known as multi-drug treatment. MB patients are cured in 12 months, PB in six. Cases resistant
to treatment are extremely rare
Do you ever wonder
, "Do I have leprosy?" Now you can take this simple self-assessment test to determine whether you do!
1. Do you have red, raised patches on your skin
2. Have you ever chew
ed through your cheek
because you couldn't feel anything? Is this a recurring
3. Has your doctor
performed a skin smear and come up with nothing? Did this self-same doctor rule out leprosy becuase of this? If so, you have an idiot
for a doctor. Be particularly worried if you're in an HMO
If you answer "yes" to the above three questions, you may have PB leprosy. Go see a non-HMO doctor immediately.
1. Are you covered with tumors?
2. Stick a finger or toe with the tumors into a food processor
. Did you feel anything? If so, you are in the early stages of the disease. If not, start fretting and check to see if you still have all of your limbs.
3. Did you catch your dog
burying one of your body parts in the backyard
4. Have you suddenly developed claw foot?
If you answered "yes" to one or more of the above questions, you may have MB leprosy. Go see your doctor immediately for a skin smear, which will detect the bacteria. Or, if you feel qualified, grab your high-powered microscope
, dab a swab from your skin beneath the lens, and look for the rod-shaped, red-stained leprosy bacilli.
This has been another public health service provided free as in beer