Prevention: primary: no vaccine available Vaccination against tuberculosis (TBC) also called BCG (Bacille Calmette Guerin against tuberculosis) has some effect secondary=early diagnosis and treatment: chemoprophylaxis (treatment of subclinical leprosy) (destined to those in potential contact) and immunoprophylaxis: single dose of rifampicine 300mg-600mg according to weight tertiary: prevention of disability leprosy (Hansen’s Disease) and TBC BCG…
Current Problems in this “Post Eradication Period” of Leprosy (For Professionnals) *WHO (World Health Organization) has used many techniques to diminish leprosy newly diagnosed cases (to reduce reports of the condition…) Treatment is said to be easy Beliefs and why leprosy is neglected: People and politicians think leprosy does not exist anymore and that it…
Dr Christophe Hsu – dermatologist. Geneva, Switzerland What is Hansen’s disease? It is an infection caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium Leprae. How is it transmitted? This is still incompletely understood but it would be airborne. It is not transmitted during birth and even prolonged contact does not guarantee transmission. How is it diagnosed? Examination…
I. Anti-leprosy treatments Modern treatment for leprosy was introduced in 1941 when dapsone and its derivatives were used. Prior to that, the segregation of patients in a leprosarium by law was intended to prevent the spread of leprosy to the community. With effective chemotherapy, leprosy is curable today and treatment is undertaken by the general…
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…
