Leprosy, formerly known as leprosy, is considered one of the oldest diseases in the world. There are reports of it from the 6th century BC It is believed to have emerged in the East and then spread by nomadic tribes or navigators.
What is leprosy?
leprosy is a illness infectious disease caused by bacteria Mycobacteriumalso known as bacillus hansen (named after Gerhard Hansen, a Norwegian physician and bacteriologist who identified the bacillus that caused the disease in 1873).
The bacillus reproduces slowly and the average period of incubation and appearance of signs of the disease is approximately five years, according to information from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
Leprosy cases in Brazil
Brazil is the second country in the world most affected by the disease, with 28,660 cases, behind only India (120,334 cases), according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), from 2019. , in 2021 alone, the country diagnosed 15,155 new disease cases. About 200,000 new cases are detected annually in the world.
Importance of diagnosis and treatment
Physician Ana Marques, professor of Medicine at Uniderp, points out the importance of identifying possible symptoms, diagnosing and treating them early, as treatment decreases the number of infecting bacilli and, thus, breaks the chain of transmission and, consequently, reduces the chance of new cases.
“Leprosy does not choose sex or age. Anyone can harbor the bacillus and, throughout life, present the illness which is characterized by being infectious with a chronic course, of slow and disabling progression, deformities that are often irreversible, when not treated, and thus transmission is maintained”, he points out.
symptoms of leprosy
leprosy affects mainly the skin and the nerves. It usually leaves reddish, brown and whitish patches on the skin; in addition to stains that are not sensitive to the touch. Painful, inflamed lumps on the body, joint pain, and swelling in the hands and feet can also be signs of illness. In the eyes, complaints of ocular dryness are frequent. Neural symptoms, such as a “tingling” sensation in arms and legs, should always be investigated.
like the bacteria M. leprae replicates very slowly, taking up to years, skin lesions may not appear quickly and may not be the factor in identifying the disease.
transmission of leprosy
Transmission of leprosy occurs when a sick person, who has the infective form of the disease (multibacillary – MB) and is untreated, eliminates the bacillus through the respiratory tract (nasal secretions, coughing, sneezing), thus being able to infect other susceptible people. not all develop this diseasesince most people have the body’s ability to defend against the bacillus.
The person with the disease must maintain family life and does not need to be removed from work. This is because, shortly after starting treatment, the patient stops transmitting the disease. However, people who live in the same house should be examined. If they do not present the disease, they must be followed up for at least five years.
leprosy treatment
The diagnosis, the treatment and the examination of all household contacts are provided free of charge by the Unified Health System (SUS). In the face of any doubt regarding the symptoms already mentioned, it is necessary to seek medical attention to investigate whether or not there is the presence of the pathology. Treatment is outpatient, with supervised monthly doses given at the health facility and self-administered doses at home for 6 to 12 years.
By Camila Crepaldi
Source: Maxima
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.