Understanding Leprosy: What is it and How Does it Affect Those That Have It?

Leprosy is a chronic and infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the skin, peripheral nerves, the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. It is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease. It is an ancient disease with a history stretching back to around 600 BC and it has been highly stigmatized and misunderstood throughout history.

Leprosy Symptoms and Treatment

The signs and symptoms of leprosy vary depending on the type of leprosy someone has as there are two types: tuberculoid and lepromatous. The early signs and symptoms of leprosy may include patches of discolored skin with hair loss, skin lesions (nodules) on the skin that are sensitive to touch, and/or nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) that causes numbness.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends multi-drug therapy (MDT) with a combination of three antibiotics to treat leprosy. The three drugs that are used in MDT are dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine. These drugs are important as they reduce the rate of infectivity and help to prevent disability in those with leprosy.

The Social Stigma Surrounding Leprosy

The social stigma around leprosy started thousands of years ago, has continued through much of history and still persists today in many places throughout the world. Until the 1940’s, those affected by leprosy had to go to what were known as leper colonies – communities of people confined due to their leprosy. They were often banned from cities and prevented from interacting with healthy people. The stigma surrounding leprosy has meant that those affected by it have faced and still face discrimination, humiliation and isolation.

It is important to understand that leprosy is treatable and no longer contagious after only a few months of treatment. There is also support available for those affected and slowly, nations around the world are working to create an understanding of the disease and set aside the stigma that has surrounded it for centuries.