10 Facts about Leprosy

Post On: December 29, 2016
By: Agustina

Let me show you the useful information about the Hansen’s disease on Facts about Leprosy. This disease is caused by Mycobacterium lepromatosis or Mycobacterium leprae. Both bacteria produce the long-term infection to the patient.  At first, the symptoms are absent after the infection within 5 to 20 years. Then the symptoms will develop by having granulomas on the eyes, skin, respiratory tract and nerves. This condition leads into the poor eyesight and weakness. The ability of the patients to feel the pain is also decreased.

Facts about Leprosy 1: the contamination of leprosy

Leprosy is more common to infect the people who live in poverty. It may spread into other people through the contact with the fluid from the nose of the patient and a cough. The popular belief thinks that this disease is highly contagious. Actually, it is not.

Leprosy Pic

Leprosy Pic

Facts about Leprosy 2: the types of Leprosy

Leprosy is divided in two primary types based on the number of bacteria.  Both are multibacillary and paucibacillary.

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Facts about Leprosy 3: the differences of paucibacillary and multibacillary

Multibacillary or paucibacillary is seen from the presented numb skin patches. Multibacillary has more than five patches. On the other hand, paucibacillary five patches or fewer.



Facts about Leprosy 4: the diagnosis

The diagnosis of Leprosy can be conducted in two ways. It may use the polymerase chain reaction to detect the bacteria in the DNA or using a biopsy.

Leprosy

Leprosy

Facts about Leprosy 5: the treatment

The multidrug therapy is considered as the curable treatment for leprosy.

Facts about Leprosy 6: Treatment for multibacillary leprosy

The medication, which consists of clofazimine, dapsone, and rifampicin, will be given to the patients with multibacillary leprosy for twelve months.

Leprosy Facts

Leprosy Facts

Facts about Leprosy 7: Treatment for paucibacillary leprosy

The patients with paucibacillary leprosy will receive rifampicin and dapsone for their treatment for six months.

Facts about Leprosy 8: the cases of leprosy

The number of leprosy cases declined significantly from 1980s to 2010. In 1980s, there were 5.2 million cases of leprosy. In 2012, there were only 189,000 cases of leprosy. World Health Organization gives the treatment for the leprosy for free.

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Facts about Leprosy 9: the countries with high cases of leprosy

More than half of new cases of leprosy are found in India.

Facts about Leprosy

Facts about Leprosy

Facts about Leprosy 10: the untreated leprosy

If leprosy is left untreated, the skin, nerves, eyes and limbs will experience permanent damages.

What do you think on facts about leprosy?