Leprosy Today

Throughout history, leprosy has possessed a stigma that it is a highly contagious and hideously disfiguring disease.

The first known reference to leprosy appeared in an Egyptian papyrus document written around 1550 BC.

It was thought to be a hereditary disease, a curse, or punishment from the gods. During the Middle Ages, those with leprosy were forced to wear special clothing and ring bells to warn others as they walked by.

In almost all cultures throughout history, leprosy provoked fear and loathing about the prospect of being infected with an incurable disease and a lifetime of progressive disfigurement.

At one time lepers, as those with the disease were labelled, were ostracised as unclean and were herded into isolated ‘leper colonies’ in order to keep them out of sight, to control the contagion, and to offer them what little treatment was available.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae, which attacks the peripheral nerves, those outside the brain and spinal cord, and the mucous membranes of the nose, throat, and eyes, making the extremities fragile and insensitive.

I’m Not Half The Man I Used To Be

Untreated, leprosy results in disability from progressive tissue degeneration, it may result in the extremities’ becoming deformed and eroded.

Often, due to the insensitivity of the extremities, sufferers accidentally harm their hands and feet during basic daily activities, resulting in damage and infection, with the eventual consequence of amputation if left unaddressed.

It usually takes about 3 to 5 years for symptoms to appear after coming into contact with the leprosy-causing bacteria. Some people do not develop symptoms until 20 years later.

The time between contact with the bacteria and the appearance of symptoms is called the incubation period. Leprosy’s long incubation period makes it very difficult for doctors to determine when and where a person with leprosy got infected.

The early signs and symptoms of leprosy vary considerably depending on the patient’s resistance to the disease.  Signs can be easily missed, ignored, or confused with another disease.

In some cases, the first sign of leprosy is a vague skin rash, known as skin-patches,  which may develop to become more obvious and wide-spread.

In other cases, the first sign may be a feeling of numbness or pins and needles. And, in advanced cases, even presenting with deformity as a consequence of long-untreated leprosy.

Treatment

Another myth that surrounds leprosy is that it is a fatal and incurable disease, sentencing the inflicted to a half life of bloodied bandages used to keep their skin and limbs on.

Leprosy is curable and the World Health Organization provides free treatment for all people with the disease

Treatment depends on the type of leprosy that you have. Antibiotics are used to treat the infection. Long-term treatment with two or more antibiotics is recommended, usually from six months to a year. People with severe leprosy may need to take antibiotics longer.

Anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids are used to control nerve pain and damage related to leprosy.

Patients with leprosy may also be given thalidomide, a very strong medication that suppresses the body’s immune system and helps treat leprosy skin nodules. Thalidomide is known to cause severe, life-threatening birth defects and should never be taken by women who are pregnant or women who may become pregnant.

Leper Likelihood

In reality, the leprosy bacillus is not highly infectious, in most cases passing from one person to another only after prolonged and close contact.

You can catch it only if you come into close and repeated contact with nose and mouth droplets from someone with untreated leprosy.

Children are more likely to get leprosy than adults, and men are more at risk than women. Genetics are also at play: The US Centre for Disease and Control, reports that 95 percent of adults are naturally unable to get the disease even if they’re exposed to it.

In 2010, there were only 11 diagnosed cases in Australia.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that in 2010 more than 97% of the more than 228,000 new cases of leprosy could be found in just 17 countries around the world.

By far, the highest numbers of new cases were reported in India (126,800), followed by Brazil (34,894) and Indonesia (17,012).

Other countries reporting significant numbers of new leprosy cases include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, and Nepal.

Should you be worried?

Probably not.