The causes of leprosy need to be watched out for even though cases of this disease are decreasing. Leprosy or leprosy is a skin disease that can damage nerves and muscles. Leprosy will cause rashes, lesions, and ulcers on the skin.
Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases in history. The first known written reference to leprosy is from about 600 BC. This explains that the cause of leprosy or leprosy has existed for hundreds of years and is still being found today.
The cause of leprosy or leprosy can be treated with appropriate and intensive treatment. Despite its infectious reputation, the cause of leprosy or leprosy can be prevented and cured.
Leprosy is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) or Mycobacterium lepromatosis (M. lepromatosis). This disease mainly attacks the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and eyes. This mycobacterium can grow slowly.
Leprosy is known to occur at all ages from childhood to very old age. The cause of leprosy or leprosy can be contagious even before it is detected. Even so leprosy can be cured and early treatment by preventing most of the disability.
According to WHO, the exact mechanism of transmission of leprosy is unknown. At least until recently, the most widely held belief was that the disease was transmitted through contact between an infected person and a healthy person. This usually occurs when a person sneezes or coughs.
Scientists believe it is captured by droplets of moisture passing through the air from a person who has leprosy but has not yet started treatment.
The bacteria that cause leprosy reproduce very slowly. The disease has an average incubation period (time between infection and the appearance of the first symptoms) of five years. Symptoms may not appear for 20 years.
Recently the possibility of transmission through the respiratory tract has increased. There are also other possibilities such as transmission through insects which cannot be completely ruled out.
This disease is actually difficult to transmit, but close and repeated contact with untreated people for a longer period of time can lead to contracting leprosy.
There is a lot of stigma around saying leprosy is a punishment or a curse. Many people also think leprosy can be transmitted easily just like that. Leprosy is not a curse, a hereditary disease, and cannot be transmitted by a brief touch.
It takes long-term contact with someone with untreated leprosy for months to catch the disease. According to the CDC, a person cannot get leprosy from casual contact with people who have leprosy, such as shaking hands or hugging, sitting next to each other on the bus, or sitting together while eating.
The cause of leprosy or leprosy is also not passed down from mother to her unborn baby during pregnancy nor is it spread through sexual contact.
The best way to prevent leprosy is to avoid long-term and close contact with untreated leprosy sufferers.
Symptoms of leprosy can be different for each individual. The main symptoms of leprosy include:
– The appearance of minor lesions on the skin and persist for weeks or months.
– patches of skin with reduced sensations, such as touch, pain, and heat.
– muscle weakness
– numbness in hands, feet, legs and arms
– eye problems
– enlarged nerves, especially in the elbows or knees
– stuffy nose and nosebleed
– curl finger and thumb
– boils on the soles of the feet.
A person may be unaware of having a burn or injury to the skin. This is due to numbness due to nerve damage.
Further Complications Due to Leprosy
Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to serious complications. Without treatment, leprosy can damage the skin, nerves, arms, legs, feet, and eyes permanently.
Wounds on the skin caused by leprosy or leprosy are more likely to be infected, because the immune defenses are weakened by leprosy. This condition can also cause cartilage reabsorption by the body. This creates a secondary infection that can result in tissue loss. This condition leads to a characteristic shortening of the toes and fingers.
Damage to the mucous membranes that line the inside of the nose can sometimes cause internal damage and scarring. Leprosy can also destroy the nerves responsible for blinking. This can cause the eyes to become dry and prone to infection, potentially leading to ulceration and blindness.