Leprosy

What is Leprosy, Symptoms, Contagiousness, Treatment

Leprosy, also known as leprosy, is a disease discovered in the 19th century. Leprosy, which can cause misshapen skin defects, can lead to more serious problems when left untreated. This disease, caused by bacteria, progresses slowly and can attack the nerves, causing the loss of the ability to perceive pain. This disease, which was frequently encountered in the past years, is now one of the diseases that is more easily controlled with developing medicine.

What is Leprosy?

Leprosy is a disease that develops as a result of infection of the body with a bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy usually affects the skin, nerves, nose and upper respiratory tract. The disease may begin to show symptoms after a long incubation period and can manifest in different ways due to its effect on people’s immune system. Leprosy spreads between people through close contact or breathing. It usually begins to show symptoms after a long incubation period. Due to its effect on the immune system, the disease can manifest in different ways.

Thanks to modern medical treatment methods, leprosy can now be effectively treated. In addition, with early diagnosis and treatment, the progression of the disease can be stopped and the person can live a normal life. However, early diagnosis is of great importance in the fight against leprosy. Historically, leprosy has led to exclusion and discrimination of patients in societies. However, as knowledge and awareness increased, misunderstandings about leprosy decreased. It is important to provide support and understanding to leprosy patients in modern society. With treatment, rehabilitation and education, the quality of life of leprosy patients can be improved and their integration into society can be supported.

What are the symptoms of leprosy?

Symptoms of leprosy may appear with changes in the skin, nerves, and sometimes mucous membranes. Here are some of the symptoms of leprosy:

• Skin Spots: The most common symptom of leprosy is the appearance of pale or dark spots on the skin. These spots are usually found on cold areas of the body (e.g. hands, feet, face).
• Nerve Damage: Leprosy can affect peripheral nerves. As a result of these nerves being affected, conditions such as tingling, numbness and loss of sensation may occur. This may increase patients’ risk of injury or infection. Because injuries may not be noticed due to loss of sensation.
• Facial Changes: Leprosy can sometimes cause permanent changes to the face. The shape of the nose and ears may change, and depressions may occur on the face. Such symptoms may become more serious in the later stages of the disease.
• Loss of Function: The function of the hands and feet may decrease due to nerve damage. Loss of fingers or feet may also occur. This may affect patients’ daily living activities.
• Muscle Weakness: Affecting the nerves can lead to muscle weakness. This can lead to movement restrictions and reduced functionality.
• Mucosal Symptoms: Leprosy can sometimes affect the nasal mucosa. This can lead to holes forming in the nasal septum. Additionally, changes may be observed in the oral mucosa.
• Eye Problems: Leprosy can affect the eyes and cause conjunctivitis (eye inflammation), corneal weakness, and other eye problems.
• Internal Organ Involvement: In advanced stages of leprosy, internal organs may also be affected. Although this condition is rare, problems may occur in the liver, spleen or testicles.

Symptoms of leprosy may differ from person to person and depend on the type of disease, duration of disease, and immune system response. If leprosy is suspected, it is important to see a healthcare professional. Remember that early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent the progression of leprosy.

What Causes Leprosy?

Leprosy is caused by an infection caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. This bacterium can spread especially through the nasal and oral mucosa or through breathing. Although it is not clear exactly how leprosy is transmitted, prolonged close contact or a weakened immune system may increase the risk of transmission.

The process of transmission usually occurs through contact: As a result of contact with an infected person, bacteria enter the skin or respiratory tract. The immune system usually responds to these bacteria, but in some cases the bacteria can multiply on the skin and nerves. This can cause skin lesions and nerve damage.

An important point is that leprosy is not contagious; Most people are exposed to the bacteria but do not develop disease. The reason for this is that these people have strong immune systems. Individuals with weak immune systems have a higher risk of contracting the disease. In conclusion, the cause of leprosy is infection caused by the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, and the process of transmission may vary depending on the person’s immune status and exposure.

How is Leprosy Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of leprosy is usually based on clinical findings and supported by some laboratory tests. Doctors make a diagnosis by carefully examining the patient’s skin and nervous system and evaluating the symptoms. They also listen to the patient’s history and collect information about the symptoms of leprosy. Laboratory tests can be used to support a definitive diagnosis of leprosy. These tests are performed by taking samples of the patient’s skin and sometimes nerve biopsies. These samples, examined under a microscope, are examined for the formation of spots or the presence of bacteria specific to leprosy. Additionally, molecular methods such as PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) can also be used. This enables the detection of the genetic material of leprosy.

Early diagnosis of leprosy is important so that the disease does not progress and the treatment is more efficient. Therefore, if leprosy is suspected, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional.

How to Treat Leprosy?

Leprosy, also called Hansen’s disease, can cause symptoms such as leukocytosis and skin lesions. To treat leprosy effectively, you can follow the steps below:

• Diagnosis and Doctor’s Examination: If leprosy is suspected, you should consult a healthcare professional. The doctor will diagnose leprosy through physical examination and necessary tests.
• Multidrug Therapy (MDT): The most common treatment for leprosy is multidrug therapy. This treatment specifically involves a combination of drugs such as doxorubicin (D) and rifampicin (R). Treatment duration can usually range from 6 to 12 months.
• Regular Use of Medications: It is very important to use the medications recommended by your doctor regularly. For the success of the treatment, you should not skip medications or stop them during the treatment.
• Personal Hygiene: Maintaining a hygienic lifestyle can help reduce the risk of infection. It is important to clean regularly and keep cuts and wounds clean.
• Monitoring: You should have regular check-ups recommended by your doctor during the treatment. These checks are important to monitor disease progression and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment.
• Communication: If you experience any unexpected situation or problem during treatment, you should contact your doctor for early intervention.
• Social Support: The support of family and friends is important during leprosy treatment. Being psychologically supported during this process can have a positive impact on the treatment.

Leprosy Disease Contagiousness

The mode of transmission and contagiousness of leprosy is related to long-term and close contact. Therefore, the spread of the disease occurs not through breathing such as coughing or sneezing, but rather through prolonged skin contact. Frequent contact, especially for long periods of time, can cause the leprosy bacteria to pass from one person to another. However, if the disease is treated, it loses its contagiousness. With proper treatment, the number of bacteria decreases and the risk of spreading the disease decreases.

Providing proper treatment and education to leprosy patients can control the spread of the disease. However, education and awareness are also important to prevent the spread of the disease due to social stigma and misinformation. The risk of contracting leprosy can be reduced by taking appropriate precautions and acting consciously.