Leprosy

Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is an infectious disease, which is chronic caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It has been known since biblical times, characterized by disfiguring skin sores, nerve damage, and progressive debilitation. Historically the said condition is affecting people of all ages since 300BC, it was recorded in biblical times although differs from tzaraath as described in Hebrew Scriptures, and later on translated into Leprosy.

It was recorded that the said condition was once connected with misconception that the person suffering from leprosy must be isolated from healthy people because of the paranoia that it is easily transmitted into healthy person. The WHO considers the said action as unethical and not necessary. Up to these days, there are still lepers colonies remain in operation anywhere in the world, Vietnam and India to name a few.

Symptoms

• Skin lesions that are lighter than your normal skin color
  o Lesions have decreased sensation to touch, heat, or pain
  o Lesions do not heal after several weeks to months
• Numbness or absent sensation in the hands, arms, feet, and legs
• Muscle weakness

Skin lesions are the primary external symptom of this condition. If this condition is left not treated, it can be progressive which causes permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.

Tubercoloid Leprosy – mainly affects skin nerves and mucous membranes

Paucibacillary Hansen’s disease is characterized by one or more hypopigmented skin macules and anaesthetic patches, i.e., damaged peripheral nerves that have been attacked by the human host’s immune cells.

Multibacillary Hansen’s disease or borderline Leprosy– chronic infectious

It is of intermediate severity, the most common form. It is associated with symmetric skin lesions, nodules, plaques, thickened outer skin, and frequent involvement of the nasal mucosa resulting in nasal congestion and nose bleeds but typically detectable nerve damage is late. Skin lesions looks like tuberculoid leprosy but are more prevalent and irregular; large patches can affect the limbs, and peripheral nerve involvement with weakness and loss of sensation.. This type is unstable and may become more like lepromatous leprosy or may undergo a reversal reaction, becoming more like the tuberculoid form.

Causes

Mycobacterium leprae is the causative agent of leprosy. It is an intracellular, acid-fast bacterium, Mycobacterium. leprae is aerobic, gram-positive, and rod-shaped, and is surrounded by the waxy cell membrane coating characteristic of Mycobacterium species.

Due to extensive loss of genes necessary for independent growth outside the host, this mycobacterium is unculturable in the laboratory, a major factor why it is difficult to positively identifying the organisms. Molecular genetics is now used and allowed to understand more and established the cause of such condition.

Prolonged close contact and transmission by nasal droplet have both been proposed as how the Mycobacterium infects people. Although prolonged close contact best fits the pattern of disease, both are still unproven.

The only other animals besides humans’ known to contract leprosy are the armadillo, chimpanzees, sooty mangabeys, and cynomolgus macaques.

The exact time taken for the cell to multiply is not known. It is generally agreed that the average incubation period of Mycobacterium laprae to develop leprosy is between 3 to 5 years.

Treatment

Chalmoogra Oil:
In liniment form, mixed with lime Juice, helps in elimination of various inflammations and ulcers of the skin throughout the body.

Gota Kola:
In extract form, add a few drops when drinking tea. It is used for the treatment of leprous wounds and inflammations. Can be eaten raw or with rice.

Not until the discovery and development of dapsone, rifampin, and clofazimine in the 1940s, there was no effective cure for leprosy.

To date the best medicine that treat leprosy is Multi-Drug Therapy or MDT

Best practice in combating Leprosy:

• early detection of patients
• appropriate treatment;
• adequate care for the prevention of disabilities and rehabilitation

Since leprosy is an infectious disease, antibiotic therapy plays a major role in the management of newly diagnosed patients.
Early recognition is important. Early treatment limits damage by the disease, renders the person noninfectious, and allows for a normal lifestyle.

Prevention
Vaccination against the leprosy bacillus may be considered. BCG vaccination is reported to be partially effective for protection against leprosy.