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Leprosy

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and primarily affects nerve cells, leading to symptoms such as discolored patches on the skin and loss of sensation. It is mildly infectious, with around 95% of people naturally immune, and can cause severe complications if untreated, including permanent disability and blindness. Since 1982, leprosy can be effectively treated with multidrug therapy, and there are over 200,000 new cases diagnosed globally each year, with a significant number occurring in India.

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14 views24 pages

Leprosy

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae and primarily affects nerve cells, leading to symptoms such as discolored patches on the skin and loss of sensation. It is mildly infectious, with around 95% of people naturally immune, and can cause severe complications if untreated, including permanent disability and blindness. Since 1982, leprosy can be effectively treated with multidrug therapy, and there are over 200,000 new cases diagnosed globally each year, with a significant number occurring in India.

Uploaded by

szachowska.urszula
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© © All Rights Reserved
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LEPROSY

1
What is leprosy?
◦ Leprosy (or Hansen’s
Disease) is a disease
caused by the bacillus
mycobacterium leprae.

2
◦Nerve cells  stem cells

3
What are the symptoms of leprosy?

◦damaging nerves close to the surface of the skin


◦discoloured patches on the body that have lost sensation
◦around five years on average but sometimes as long as 30
years

4
What causes leprosy?
◦ moisture droplets

5
https://epibaza.pzh.gov.pl/
◦Leprosy is not hereditary

6
◦ 24 years old man from Norway, sick with leprosy

7
1871, Gerhard Henrik
Armauer Hansen

8
Does leprosy still exist?

Yes

9
What are the complications associated with
leprosy?
◦ treated early low chances of permanent disability,

◦ untreated  progresses and the nerve damage spreads, lacking sensation in their
hands and feet,

◦ muscle paralysis, resulting in clawed fingers and foot drop. This makes it difficult for
people to walk or use their hands,

◦ face nerve damage  eyelid muscles stop working sight loss and blindness,

10
Is there a cure for leprosy?
◦since 1982,
◦multidrug therapy  combination of three drugs taken daily for
six or 12 months

11
STATISTICS
12
www.cdc.gov
13
14
Is leprosy infectious?
◦mildly infectious,
◦it usually takes years of living close to an untreated leprosy
patient to catch the disease,
◦ around 95 per cent of people are thought to be naturally
immune,
◦immunity lowered  people are more likely to catch leprosy.

15
Stigma and discrimination
◦In some countries, people are afraid of leprosy, due to ancient
myths and superstitions or a lack of understanding.
◦They can be rejected by their families, friends and
communities,
◦One way the stigma of leprosy persists is through use of the
word ‘leper’.

16
Leprosy facts

• there are more than 200,000 new cases of leprosy diagnosed


globally each year,
• 51 per cent of new cases of leprosy diagnosed in 2020 were
found in India.

17
It was discovered that
american armadillos also
suffer from leprosy (due
to the relatively low body
temperature) and since
then these animals have
been used in
experiments.

18
HISTORICAL SIDE OF
THE LEPROSY
19
◦In the Middle Ages, people affected by leprosy often struggled
with rejection, misunderstanding and resentment on the part
of others,
◦belief among the society that leprosy is a punishment for sins
 „lepers” could not marry, attend masses, funerals,
◦„lepers” were forced to live in leprosariums.

20
Spinalonga
Nicknamed as the island
of the living dead,
Spinalonga was opened
as a leper colony in 1903
and was used as a place
of exile until 1957.

21
Questions

◦Is leprosy a bacterial disease?


◦Has leprosy been completely eradicated?
◦How many new cases of leprosy are
diagnosed globally each year?

22
Sources
◦ About Leprosy (leprosymission.org.uk)
◦ The Story of Spinalonga, the Island of the Lepers in Crete - Greeking.me
◦ Trąd (lepra, choroba Hansena) - czym jest, jak się objawia i jak można go leczyć | WP
abcZdrowie
◦ spinalonga - Bing images
◦ trąd - Bing images
◦ pancernik - Bing images

23
Thank you for your attention!

24

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