Leprosy (Hansen's disease) facts

in #science6 years ago
  • Leprosy also called ete in Yoruba, ekpenta
    in Igbo, Kuturta in Hausa, lepra in Spanish,
    lepre in French.
  1. Leprosy is a slowly developing,
    progressive disease that damages the skin
    and nervous system.

  2. Leprosy is caused by an infection with
    Mycobacterium leprae or M. lepromatosis
    bacteria.

  3. Early symptoms begin in cooler areas of
    the body and include loss of sensation.

  4. Signs of leprosy are painless ulcers, skin
    lesions of hypopigmented macules (flat,
    pale areas of skin), and eye damage
    (dryness, reduced blinking). Later, large
    ulcerations, loss of digits, skin nodules, and
    facial disfigurement may develop.

  5. The infection is thought to be spread
    person to person by nasal secretions or
    droplets. Leprosy is rarely transmitted from
    chimpanzees, mangabey monkeys, and nine-
    banded armadillos to humans by droplets or
    direct contact.

  6. Susceptibility to getting leprosy may be
    due to certain human genes.

  7. Antibiotics are used in the treatment of
    leprosy.

  8. Leprosy is curable and treatment in the
    early stages can prevent disability. It can
    cause circulatory failure and can also attack
    internal organs. If the disease is not treated
    with antibiotics, it can be fatal. Medical
    treatment stops the disease and removes
    the infection, but it does not repair the
    damage.
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