Leprosy

Leprosy General Information

Leprosy is a medical term that defines a chronic medical condition. The cause of this disorder is known to be a dangerous bacterium known as Mycobacterium leprae. The term that defines this illness (also widely known as Hansen’s disease) derives from a Greek word – lepid that means “fish scales”. This medical condition belongs to the class of the granulomatous disorders that affect the mucosa and peripheral nerves of the upper respiratory tract. This medical condition is easily recognized based on its main external symptom: the presence of skin lesions. If this medical condition is not treated in due time it will progress, leading to the appearance of permanent damage of the patient’s eyes, nerves, limbs, skin, and so on.

Although there is a popular conception that states that the presence of this medical condition leads to the falling off of body parts, this is merely a myth. This disorder is highly infectious and man kind is familiar with it ever since biblical times. The untreated presence of this medical condition (Leprosy) can also lead to progressive debilitation. This medical disorder is not very contagious (in other words, its transmission from one individual to another is quite difficult). This disease has a long incubation period (the incubation period refers to the period of time that passes until the symptoms begin to appear). For this reason, it is sometimes very difficult to determine where or when the disorder was contracted. Studies have shown that children can contact this medical condition much easier than adults. This disorder appears in its 2 forms: lepromatous and tuberculoid. Although both of these medical disorders produce skin sores, the first is known to lead to the appearance of very large lumps, bumps and disfiguring nodules.

Leprosy Symptoms

The presence of this medical disorder (Leprosy) is easily recognized through its main symptom: the appearance of skin lesions. However, if a patient is suffering from this medical disorder, he or she will also experience other specific clinical manifestations of this infectious disorder. We have made a list that includes some of the most common signs and symptoms that are associated with the presence of this medical condition. They include: numbness (that affects the patient’s legs, feet, hands, arms, and so on), absent sensation in the limbs, muscle weakness, anesthesia, pins and needles sensation, nerve lesions, muscular atrophy, discolored spots on the skin, deformities on the face, limbs, and so on.

The skin lesions remain the most important (and the most common) symptom of this medical disorder (Leprosy). They generally present decreased sensation to pain, heat and touch. These lesions have a lighter color than the average skin color; it is known that they only heal in time (sometimes the healing process lasts a few months). Other patients who have been diagnosed with this medical disorder also present hairless skin plaques, mycobacterial destruction of nasal septum, mycobacterial destruction of facial tissue, mycobacterial destruction of cartilage, loss of eyebrows, enlarged earlobes, loss of eyebrows, eye keratitis, corneal anesthesia, and so on. All forms of Leprosy are known to eventually lead to nerve damage in the legs and / or arms (a condition known as peripheral neurological damage). This triggers muscle weakness and sensory loss. If a patient has presented this medical disorder for a very long time, he or she may have lost the use of their feet and / or hands (this is because of repeated damage due to lack of sensibility).

Leprosy Treatment

In the case of patients who are suffering from this disorder (Leprosy), early treatment is very important. In this way, one can prevent experiencing irreversible damage to his or her limbs and make sure that after the infection has been cured, they will be able to lead a normal life. Early therapy also helps the patient avoid experiencing the potential complications that may be caused by this medical disorder (among them, the most important are: cosmetic disfigurement, permanent nerve damage, and so on). In this chapter we intend to provide you a set of detailed information regarding the most common therapy options, but also about the most effective treatments against this medical condition.

It has been shown that a vast number of antibiotics are effective against the bacteria that are known to be responsible for the appearance of this medical condition. During the therapy for Leprosy, physicians also aim to keep the patient’s inflammation under control. Therapies with aspirin, Thalidomide and Prednisone have proven to be effective in this way. The best way to prevent experiencing this medical condition is to avoid any close physical contact with people who are suffering from this medical disorder and are not following any therapy for their condition. It has been shown that patients who are following a long term treatment trial with medicines (antibiotics) become non-infectious (in other words, they do not transmit the bacteria that is known to lead to the developing of this disorder).

The most common medicine that is widely employed in the therapy against Leprosy is Dapsone. Unfortunately, many strains of the bacteria that have developed resistance to the medicine are not killed by the intake of this drug and require a multi-medicine treatment. The average medicine “cocktail” includes Rifampin, Dapsone and Clofamizine (very powerful antibiotics). After three months of intense and uninterrupted therapy the patient becomes non-infectious. Depending on the type of Leprosy that the patient is suffering from, his or her therapy may last from a few months to a couple of years.

Each of the medicines that are prescribed in the therapy against this medical condition lead to the appearance of minor side effects. For example, a prolonged treatment with Dapsone triggers rash, jaundice, palpitations, dizziness, and so on. If the patient develops any of these side effects he or she should immediately contact his or her personal health care provider. Rifampin is known to cause nausea, muscle cramps, rash, flu-like symptoms, and so on, while Clofamizine is responsible for diarrhea and abdominal pain. Thalidomide, the well known agent of birth defects can be prescribed in the therapy against the complications that can be triggered by Leprosy. For further information, contact your doctor.