Leprosy : causes, symptoms, treatment, prevention

Leprosy:-

Leprosy is the infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Peripheral nerves, upper respiratory tract and muscles are affected by leprosy. Skin lesions are main symptoms of leprosy.

Causes of Leprosy:-

Leprosy is caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae.

The incubation period of leprosy is long. So the method of disease transmission is difficult to identify. Leprosy is not a easily communicable disease. Children are more prone to get leprosy than adults.

Types of Leprosy:- there are two types of Leprosy

1. Tuberculoid and
2. Lepromatous .

Both forms have similar symptoms but, lepromatous is severe form, forms lumps on the skin and sores are worsened.

Symptoms of Leprosy:-

* NERVES, MUSCLES AND SKIN are mainly affected by leprosy.

* Peripheral nerve damage is the main symptom of leprosy. The limbs are affected first.

* Skin lesions : Skin lesions are different from other lesions. The lesions are less sensitive to touch, heat or pain. lesions Won’t heal, even after several months.

* Numbness at peripheral region : hands, feet, arms, and legs loses sensation or numbness is present.

* Muscle weakness, leads to generalized weakness.

* Mucus membrane is also affected.

Diagnosis and treatment:-

*  To distinguish tuberculoid, and lepromatous leprosy, Lepromin skin test
is done.

*  To find acid fast bacteria, skin scraping is done.

*  Antibiotics are used to combat the infection.

* Drugs such as steroids, and analgesics are given to reduce inflammation.

* Prognosis of leprosy is good, if early recognition and treatment are provided.

* People should be educated to take medical help as soon as the skin lesions appears.

Prevention of Leprosy:-

*  Close physical contact with leprosy infected person should be avoided.

*  Proper physical examination, to find lesions is important to control leprosy disease in early stage.