Home Articles Leprosy was called the ‘bad Karma’ disease: Here is all you need...
Leprosy was a disease with a lot of social stigmas attached. People used to say due to ‘bad karmas’ someone is suffering from leprosy. Later we came to know it just a disease like any other diseases. Anyone can get affected. Now we are fully aware that it is just a chronic curable infectious disease mainly causing skin lesions and peripheral nerve damage (outside brain and spinal cord).
We cannot forget the work done by Baba Amte for leprosy patients at Maharashtra. On 15 August 1949, he and his wife sadhana started a leprosy hospital in Anandvan under a tree.
The prevalence of Leprosy
Leprosy is almost exclusively a disease of the developing world, affecting areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. More than 80 per cent of cases occur in few countries like India, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar and Nepal.
The scenario has changed now. In India, we have less than 100 thousand cases per year. Cases are decreasing due to increase awareness, improved hygiene and of course due to advanced medical facilities. We are also aware now that this disease is treatable.
How is Leprosy caused?
Leprosy is generally associated with poverty and rural residence. It is also known as Hanson’s disease after the scientist who discovered M. leprae in 1873. Mycobacterium leprae is a slow-growing bacterium.
It’s not that contagious. You can catch infection only if you come into close and repeated contact with mouth and nose droplets from someone with untreated leprosy. Close physical contact is necessary for transmission. It is not spread by casual physical contact with an infected person like shaking hands, hugging or sitting next to them.
Symptoms and forms of Leprosy
The main symptom of leprosy is disfiguring skin sores, lumps that don’t go away after several weeks or months. Nerve damage can lead to loss of feeling in the arms and legs and muscle weakness.
It has two forms tuberculoid and lepromatous. Tuberculoid is a mild form of leprosy. People with this type have only one or a few patches of flat, pale coloured skin lesions. The affected areas of skin may feel numb because of nerve damage underneath. This form is less contagious. Lepromatous leprosy is a more severe form of the disease. It has widespread skin bumps and rashes, numbness and muscle weakness.
Diagnosis and treatment of Leprosy
For diagnosis, we have to give a skin biopsy. In the smear, the doctor can diagnose the presence of bacteria, whether they are alive or dead, type of leprosy and even response to treatment. You may need a lepromin skin test to diagnose which type of leprosy you have. For this doctor will inject a small amount of inactive leprosy causing bacteria just underneath the skin of your forearm. They will check the spot 3 days later and again after 28 days. If you do have a reaction you may have tuberculoid or borderline leprosy.
Some complications may arise if you receive no proper treatment. Complications arise due to nerve involvement like insensitivity to touch, pain and heat. Disfigurement may occur but it is neither inevitable nor untreatable. Complications can be prevented.
It is important to train patients on self-care as the primary means to prevent disability which includes teaching them to look themselves over daily for ulcers or wounds and care for them properly. Avoid plastic footwear or gloves, cover wounds with clean bandages and look after them well. Protect hands and feet from injury. Be aware of signs of neuropathy. Apply moisturizer on skin to prevent dryness, seek treatment of eye infection at the earliest to preserve vision. Long term treatment is the main problem for patient compliance (which may require treatment for 6 months to 2 years). Social support is very important for patients. Give them love and care. Help them to conquer the disease.
