Leprosy disease What is leprosy? Leprosy is a contagious skin disease that appears in the form of severe skin ulcers that escalate to cause nerve damage in the arms, legs and skin areas around the body, as well as muscle weakness. Leprosy is a very ancient skin disease, as there were testimonies confirming that it was affecting humans in the oldest civilizations of China, Egypt and India, but the patient was rejected so that the disease would not be transmitted because it was contagious. Today, the number of people affected by leprosy is about 208,000 worldwide, most of them from Africa and Asia, according to the World Health Organization. Causes of leprosy Leprosy is also called Hanson's disease after the doctor who discovered the germ that causes it. The disease is caused by an infection with the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It is believed that this bacteria is transmitted through contact with the mucous secretions of an infected person, that is, this usually occurs when a person with leprosy sneezes or coughs, but it is not highly contagious, as it needs frequent and close contact with mucus to infect it. It also does not spread through casual contact with an infected person, such as: shaking hands, hugging or sitting next to them on the bus, and it is not transmitted through sexual contact either. Symptoms of leprosy Leprosy primarily targets the skin and nerves away from the brain and spinal cord, where the so-called peripheral nerves may strike the eyes and the soft tissues inside the nose. Hence, the main symptom of leprosy may be skin abnormalities and severe ulcers that last for several weeks and even months. Nerve damage may in turn lead to: Loss of feeling in the arms and legs. muscle weakness; In fact, the development of Mycobacterium leprae is slow, so it may take more than 3-5 years for symptoms to appear, and some people may not have symptoms for more than 20 years since contact with the bacteria. Types of leprosy There are different types of leprosy, each requiring different treatment and causing different symptoms: 1. Tuberculoid leprosy It is reflected in the form of a spot or a few spots that affect the skin, where its color is pale and the skin becomes crusty. It causes damage to the nerves under the skin, so the skin may feel numb, but this type of leprosy may be less common than other types. 2. Lepromatous leprosy This disease is more severe in nature, as it spreads over large areas of the skin and rashes, accompanied by a severe feeling of numbness and muscle weakness. Lepromatous leprosy may progress to target the nose, kidneys, and male reproductive system and is more powerful in terms of transmission. 3. Borderline leprosy A person with this type of leprosy has symptoms of previous leprosy. Diagnosis of leprosy Diagnosis mainly begins with the rash that the patient may have. The doctor may take a sample or biopsy and send it to the laboratory for examination, or the doctor may use a skin swab test that collects bacteria on it. In the laboratory, the doctor detects any bacteria growing on the skin, and thus checks whether the person has leprosy. Leprosy treatment During the last twenty years, nearly 16 million people who had leprosy were cured, as the World Health Organization provides free treatment for each infected person, as follows: The treatment of leprosy depends mainly on its type. Antibiotics are used first to treat the infection. Their use extends from 6 months to a year. In severe cases, they may be used for a longer period. These include the following antibiotics: Dapsone (Dapsone). Rifampin (Rifampin). Clofazimine Minocycline. Ofloxacin Nerve damage is irreversible in the long term, but anti-inflammatory drugs such as prednisone are used to control the pain and damage caused by leprosy. Thalidomide is sometimes given to patients with leprosy. It is an effective drug that suppresses the immune system, which helps in the treatment of leprosy skin nodules. However, this drug leads to severe congenital malformations of the fetus, so it is not given to pregnant women. Complications of leprosy If a patient with leprosy does not receive appropriate treatment, he is at risk of suffering the most severe damage, which may reach the following: Blindness or glaucoma. irreparable facial deformity. Erectile dysfunction and infertility in men. Kidney failure. Muscle weakness, which may lead to difficulty bending the hands and feet. Permanent damage to the inside of the nose, which can lead to chronic obstruction and bleeding. Permanent damage to the peripheral nerves, where the patient becomes unable to feel his limbs at all, which leads to harming himself, whether with burns, wounds, and even amputations. Hence, it is absolutely necessary not to neglect the treatment of leprosy, in order to avoid reaching these difficult stages.
Leprosy is a long term infection by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae\'\' or \'\'Mycobacterium lepromatosis\'\'. Infection can lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and eyes. This nerve damage may result in a lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to the loss of parts of a person\'s extremities from repeated injuries or infection through unnoticed wounds. An infected person may also experience muscle weakness and poor eyesight. Leprosy symptoms may begin within one year, but, for some people, symptoms may take 20 years or more to occur.