What is Leprosy?

Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious

disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The disease affects
the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper
respiratory tract and the eyes. This nerve damage may result in
a lack of ability to feel pain, which can lead to the loss of parts
of a person's extremities from repeated injuries or infection
through unnoticed wounds. An infected person may also
experience muscle weakness and poor eyesight. Leprosy
symptoms may begin within one year, but, for some people,
symptoms may take 20 years or more to occur. Leprosy is
known to occur at all ages ranging from early childhood to old
age. Leprosy is curable and treatment during early stages can
prevent disability.

Types of Leprosy:
There are three main types of leprosy, including:

1. Tuberculoid leprosy: Someone with this type of leprosy

usually has mild symptoms, developing only a few sores.
This is because of a good immune response. Tuberculoid
leprosy is also called paucibacillary leprosy (PB).

2. Lepromatous leprosy: People with this type of leprosy

have widespread sores and lesions affecting nerves, skin
 and organs. With lepromatous leprosy, the immune
response is poor and the disease is more contagious.
Lepromatous leprosy is also called multibacillary leprosy
(MB).
3. Borderline leprosy: This type of leprosy involves
symptoms of both tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy.
Borderline leprosy is also called dimorphus leprosy.

Causes of Leprosy:
Leprosy is majorly caused when one comes in close
contact with the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae.

Although it is not highly contagious, leprosy (Hansen's

disease) can spread from person to person. Experts don’t
fully understand how the disease spreads from one person
to another, but the bacterium is likely transmitted through
airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or
sneezes. When bacterium is released into the
environment, other people can inhale it. Hansen's disease
can’t be spread through hugging, shaking hands, sitting
next to an infected person or even sexual contact.

It’s important to note that most people have natural

immunity to Mycobacterium leprae. In fact, only 5% of all
people are truly vulnerable to leprosy (Hansen's disease).
 Mycobacterium leprae only grows in living hosts, including
certain types of armadillos. Research has confirmed that a
species of armadillo native to the southern United States
and Mexico can carry leprosy (Hansen's disease) and
spread it to humans.

Treatment of Leprosy:
Early diagnosis and complete treatment with multidrug therapy
(MDT) remain the key strategies for reducing the disease
burden of leprosy.

The 2018 Guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment and

prevention of leprosy published by WHO, recommends the
same 3-drug regimen with rifampicin, dapsone and clofazimine
for all leprosy patients, with a duration of treatment of 6
months for PB leprosy and of 12 months for MB leprosy.