15 Necessary Facts about leprosy everyone should know

                                    15 Necessary Facts about leprosy everyone should know

Introduction

In the country where the disease is epidemic, you will be the soft target of the disease if you reside there. In accordance with the WHO data from 2019:

 

Brazil, India and Indonesia gave details of more than 10,000 new cases

Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka and the United Republic of Tanzania each gave details of 1000–10,000 new cases.

Leprosy is the disease which is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. This disease is characterized by skin sores, nerve damage, and muscle weakness which worsens over time. In a few cases, body parts could lose their ability to sense touch and pain, which increase the possibility of injuries such as cuts and burn.

Thus it is necessary to know some facts about leprosy which will be helpful in curing this disease in a timely manner.

Facts about leprosy to be known

These facts will burst(finish) the stigma and prejudice so that individuals suffering from this disease do not get affected by mental health problem like isolation. Not only this, by knowing the facts about this disease, individuals affected by this disease do not become susceptible to discrimination. These facts are:

1.       There is no survival chance for leprosy bacteria if it is unable to get host for its survival otherwise it will die within a few days.

2.       Do not let soil that is infected by leprosy come in contact with open wound as Leprosy bacteria is capable of its survival in soil amoeba.

3.       The bacteria which is responsible for causing leprosy is very slow growing. That means it might take upto 20 years for the symptoms of leprosy to become apparent.

4.       Leprosy does not transmit easily through shaking hands, sitting next to or talking to someone who is suffering from leprosy,

5.       Leprosy is curable as there are drugs which cure leprosy are Rifampicin, Dapsone and Clofazimine. In order to prevent antibiotic resistence, healthcare provider prescribes two to three different kinds of antibiotics at once.

6.       As leprosy bacteria attacks the nerves of fingers and toes that is why fingers and toes become numb.

7.       When leprosy bacteria damages eye nerves, this can lead to blindness.

8.       Aspirin, prednisone, or thalidomide can be used to control inflammation that is caused due to leprosy.

9.       Muscle weakness occur in leprosy where muscles and bones begin to disintegrate and get reabsorbed by the body.

10.   If left untreated, leprosy leads to not only progressive but also to irreversible harm to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.

11.   As the organism which causes leprosy and the one that causes TB are closely related, therefore the BCG vaccine which is used against tuberculosis, may provide protection against leprosy to some extent.

12.   The main effect of the disease is on the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and also the eyes.

13.   The transmission of leprosy occurs through droplets, from the nose and mouth.

14.   When there is involvement of motor nerves, paralysis such as ‘dropped foot’, ‘dropped wrist’, ‘clawed hand’, or lagophthalmos (where the eye cannot close) can occur.

15.   When the autonomic nerves are damaged, this leads to hair loss and can also have effect on the ability to sweat.

Conclusion

By becoming aware about these facts, we will be able to deal with leprosy and cure this disease in right span of time and develop sympathy towards people suffering from leprosy.