Leprosy is a disease which causes nerve damage, muscle weakness and skin sores that get worse with time. It is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae and is mildly contagious with a long incubation period making it difficult to identify. Children are more likely to get affected by this disease. The disease develops gradually and results in skin lesions and deformities, mostly affecting the cooler places of the body such as eyes, nose, earlobes, feet, hands and testicles.
Symptoms of leprosy
Numbness and loss of temperature sensation (cannot sense very hot or cold temperature)
Painless ulcers
Skin lesions of hypopigmented macules
Eye damage (dryness, reduced blinking)
Loss of digits
Facial disfigurement
Treatment
Majority of leprosy cases are clinically diagnosed and treated with antibiotics. The type of antibiotic, dosage, and duration of intake is based on the type of disease and as per the recommendation of a medical personnel. It is a curable disease but requires long term drug therapy, generally 6 – 12 months.
For older cases with deformities or disabilities, the following modalities are available:
Corrective Physiotherapy
Reconstructive Plastic Surgery
Vaccine treatment also helps to control the infection along with the drug therapy. Surgery is performed when medical treatment has been completed and negative skin smears. It is carried out only in rare cases and is customized for each patient with an aim to attempt cosmetic improvements and, if possible, to bring back limb function and some neural functions that were lost due to the disease.