World Leprosy Day:
World Leprosy Day is observed on January 30 every year to make people aware of leprosy and remove the misconceptions spread in society.Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae.
- The disease predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves.
- Left untreated, the disease may cause progressive and permanent disabilities.
- Apart from the physical deformity, persons affected by leprosy also face stigmatization and discrimination.
- It is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) that still occurs in more than 120 countries, with more than 200,000 new cases reported each year.
- It is known to occur at all ages, ranging from early childhood to old age.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
