The importance of leprosy lies in its ability to cause permanent disabilities from damage to nerves and eyes. Nerve damage can be due to granulomatous lesions that result in fibrosis, during reactions when severe inflammation results in nerve destruction and from ischaemia caused by pressure on the vasa nervosa. . The residual nerve deficit that…
Histological examination of the skin lesion and nerve for the typical histological changes and the presence of acid-fast bacilli is required for the definitive diagnosis of leprosy. All cases of leprosy should preferably be confirmed histologically as labeling a person with leprosy carries with it dire social and medical implications. Slit skin smear to detect…
Leprosy primarily affects the skin and nerves of humans. The lesions may be remarkably asymptomatic even after years of existence. However, some patients develop reactions resulting in painful cutaneous lesions accompanied by fever, malaise and other symptoms. Most frequently the first signs develop on the skin, even though the nerve is always involved simultaneously. In…
The type of disease developed is partially linked to the HLA genes: HLA DR2 and HLA DR3 predispose to tuberculoid disease and HLA–Mt1 to lepromatous disease. Environmental factors such as poor nutrition and poor sanitation play a role through altered immunity in a yet ill-understood mechanism. Human disease results from formation of granulomas in the…
Mycobacterium leprae is the cause of leprosy – the organism being first discovered by Armauer Hansen in 1873. The infected human being is considered to be the only source of infection. Although 4% of the nine-banded armadillo in the USA have naturally acquired leprosy-like disease, only a handful of the spread from the armadillo to…
Leprosy has struck fear into human beings for thousands of years. Since ancient times, leprosy has been regarded as a highly contagious, mutilating and incurable disease and this has led to an intense negative reaction from the community – many of whom dread the people afflicted with leprosy more than the disease itself. However, with…
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