Recently, the Maharashtra government has officially declared leprosy a “notifiable disease.”
About Leprosy:
Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
It is also known as Hansen’s disease.
It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes and other organs.
It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) which still occurs in more than 120 countries, with around 200 000 new cases reported every year.
It was declared notifiable in 2005 uniformly under the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Transmission of Leprosy
The disease is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth of an untreated case of leprosy, containing the causative agent, following prolonged, close contact.
The disease does not spread through casual contact (like shaking hands or hugging, sharing meals or sitting next to each other).
The patient stops transmitting the disease upon initiation of treatment.
Symptoms of Leprosy
It usually takes about 3 to 5 years for symptoms to appear after you come into contact with the bacteria that cause leprosy.
The main symptom of leprosy is disfiguring skin sores, lumps, or bumps that don’t go away after several weeks or months.
In some cases, body parts may lose their sense of touch and pain, increasing the likelihood of injuries such as cuts and burns.
Treatment of Leprosy
Leprosy is a curable disease.
The currently recommended treatment regimen consists of three medicines (dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine) and is referred to as multi-drug therapy (MDT).
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