FAQ - Leprosy

Hello and I am back.

So we were talking about Leprosy - the disease. We will be talking a lot about Leprosy here.
Because I am sure you have never had a conversation on Leprosy before . Have you ? I guessed so.
Well I maybe wrong in a few few cases. But... Alright Point made!
So I am going to do a couple of things first to initiate our conversation .
Let me first list down the FAQs ( or frequently asked questions. My Chief really thinks that this needs to be elaborated )

And here they are :-

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q 1.   What is Leprosy? 

Leprosy is a long persisting (chronic) infectious disease. 

It appears as a hypo-pigmented patch on skin with definite loss of sensation. The onset of leprosy is subtle and silent.  It affects nerves, skin and eyes.  

Of all the communicable diseases, leprosy is very important for its potential cause for permanent and progressive physical disability. In addition, the disease and its visible disabilities in particular, contribute to intense social discrimination of patients.    

Q 2.   What causes Leprosy?

Leprosy is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium leprae.)

Q 3.   How is the disease spread?

Untreated leprosy-affected person is the only known source for transmission of the bacteria. Respiratory tract, especially nose, is the major route of exit of the organism from the body of infectious persons.

 Disease causing organism enters the body commonly through respiratory system by droplet infections.

After entering the body, the organism migrates towards the nerves and skin.

If it is not diagnosed and treated in early stages, it may cause further damage to nerves leading to development of permanent disability. 

Q 4.   Is the disease hereditary?

There is no evidence to say that it is hereditary. 

Q5. What are the signs and symptoms of leprosy? 

Leprosy should be suspected if a person shows the following signs and symptoms:

 Dark-skinned people might have light patches on the skin, while pale-skinned people have darker or reddish patches

Loss or decrease of sensation in the skin patches  Numbness or tingling in hand or feet  Weakness of hands, feet or eyelids  Painful nerves  Swelling or lumps in the face or earlobes  Painless wounds or burns on hands or feet.

Q 6.  Is Leprosy curable? 

 The disease is curable. If detected early it can be cured by Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT)    Recurrence after adequate treatment with MDT is extremely rare.

Q 7.  Why leprosy takes so long to show symptoms? 

The symptoms of the disease occur generally after a long period as the incubation period for leprosy is variable from few weeks to 20 years or more.   The average incubation period of the disease is said to be five to seven years. 

Q 8.  What should be done in case of suspicion of leprosy?

In case of presence of signs and symptoms of leprosy, please contact ASHA or ANM of your area or visit the nearest dispensary. Treatment of leprosy is available free of cost at all government dispensaries.

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Q9.  What is the impact (medical) of leprosy?

 It results in physical disability and deformity due to nerve damage resulting in sensory and muscle weakness.   All this leads to dry skin - that with added sensory impairments, results in development of hardened skin, blisters and ulcers.  If ulcer is neglected, it may further worsen the disability. This is compounded by muscle paralysis leading to deformity. 

Q 10.  Where is the medicine for leprosy available?

MDT is available free of cost at all the Government Health Care Facilities in the country. Under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme, treatment is provided free of cost to all the cases diagnosed each year through the general health care system including NGO institutions.

Q 11.  Can the deformities be corrected by medicine?

  No, but can be prevented by early detection and treatment.

  Medicines (MDT) should be started as soon as possible after the person is diagnosed as having    leprosy. Those who start the MDT late, after irreversible loss of nerve functions, are left with deformities and become disabled physically. Such deformities can be corrected to a limited extent only with surgery.

Q 12.  Can the deformity be corrected by surgery?

 Only partial deformity can be corrected by surgery.

Q13.   How to prevent disability?

  Detect cases as early as possible, before deformities can set in.  It is therefore important to take regular treatment (MDT), report immediately in case of loss of sensation or nerve pain.   Q14.   Should a person affected by leprosy be sent to a leprosy sanatorium? There is no need to treat leprosy patients in special clinics or hospitals. In many countries, leprosaria have been transformed into general hospitals or other functions. 

I am sure you certainly didn't have the answer to them all. But wait, you have no idea of how much you still need to know.

But you will know.

- The Dreamer