LEPROSY

 Hello everyone! I hope you are all fine and I am fine too. Today, I would discuss a disease that is very rare and is highly contagious. Yes! I am talking of leprosy. Let us get started!

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Leprosy is a chronic, progressive bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease. It was named after a scientist Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen who discovered the "Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae)".

TYPES OF LEPROSY

There are 3 types of leprosy:-

• Tuberculoid Leprosy
• Lepromatous Leprosy
• Borderline Leprosy

CAUSES

Let me here by clear that Leprosy or Hansen's disease is ONLY caused by a slow-growing type of bacteria called"Mycobacterium leprae". But it can also be caused by a person who is already infected by Leprosy because it is contagious.

SYMPTOMS

Following are the symptoms of Hansen's disease:-

• Early symptoms begin in cooler areas of the body and include loss of sensation
• Discolored patches on the skin
• Dried and stiff skin
• Growth of nodules on the skin
• Painless ulcers on the soles of the feet
• Painless swelling or lumps on the face or earlobes.
• Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes.

Symptoms may occur within 1 year but can also take as long as 20 years or even more to occur.

TREATMENTS

Following are the treatments for Hansen's disease:-

• It is a devastating disease, but now we know it doesn't spread easily and treatment is very effective. However, if left untreated, the nerve damage can result in crippling of hands and feet, paralysis, and blindness.

WHO developed a multidrug therapy in 1995 to cure all types of leprosy. It’s available free of charge worldwide.

Additionally, several antibiotics treat leprosy by killing the bacteria that causes it. These antibiotics include:

• dapsone (Aczone)
• Rifampin(Rifadin)
• clofazimine (Lamprene)
• minocycline (Minocin)
• ofloxacin (Ocuflux)

Your doctor will likely prescribe more than one antibiotic at the same time.

• They may also want you to take an anti-inflammatory medication such as aspirin (Bayer)
• The treatment will last for months and possibly up to 1 to 2 years.

PREVENTIONS

• The best way to prevent leprosy is to avoid long-term, close contact with an untreated person who has the infection.
• There is no such vaccine available for leprosy

DIAGNOSIS

• A skin biopsy is commonly used to diagnose leprosy.
• A skin biopsy involves removing a small section of skin for laboratory testing.
•  If you have the symptoms of leprosy, a lepromin skin test may be ordered along with a biopsy to confirm both the presence and type of leprosy.

HOW MUCH IS IT COMMON?

Leprosy can affect people of all races anywhere in the world. However, it is most common in warm, wet areas of the tropics and subtropics. In 2011, over 200,000 new cases of leprosy were registered worldwide. Worldwide prevalence is reported to be around 5.5 million, with 80% of these cases found in 5 countries: India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Brazil, and Nigeria. In New Zealand, most cases come from Samoa, Tahiti, and the Cook Islands. A small number of new cases are seen annually in Australia affecting the indigenous population and migrants from endemic areas.

Infection can present at any age. There are two age peaks; 10–14 years of age, and 35–44 years. It is rarely seen in infants and young children.

My dear readers!

your health is the most precious thing in your life. Therefore it is our duty to protect it and live it by being tension free. So, may you live a long and healthy life.

Well friends, so that was it. Hope you liked it. I would write again soon. Till then, byee!!!