Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease. There is treatment for Leprosy or Hansen’s disease. Leprosy is a chronic disease, caused by bacteria. Hansen’s disease affects the nerves on the peripheral and mucosa of the respiratory tract. Hansen’s disease and leprosy can be seen when symptoms appear as skin lesions.

Is leprosy dangerous?
Leprosy is a progressive disease and it becomes dangerous as it causes permanent damage to the skin, nerves, eyes and limbs. Hansen’s disease symptoms can cause the diseased parts of the body to become disfigured or auto-amputated as they drop off.

What causes leprosy and Hansen’s disease?
Leprosy is caused by bacteria. It is not sexually transmitted. Hansen’s Disease can be transmitted through contact and infected air.

Can leprosy be treated?
Leprosy can be treated and it takes 2 weeks to remove the contagious period of the Hansen’s disease.

How is leprosy treated?
Multidrug therapy (MDT) is used to treat leprosy. The drugs are dapsone, clofazimine and rifampicin. MDT is taken over a year but there are single dose MDT to treat a single lesion.

Please consult your doctor for treatment.

International Leprosy Day is on January 31. This day commemorates the world’s efforts to educate the public on Hansen’s Disease. It aims to remove the stigma by educating the public that Leprosy can be treated if caught in its early stages.

Damien of Moloka’i was a Roman Catholic priest who served the leper colony in Moloka’i. Fater Damien contacted the disease and later died from the effects. Pope Benedict XVI canonized Father Damien and made him a saint on October 11, 2009.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, October 11th, 2009 at 4:34 pm and is filed under Gossip, Health.