Leprosy
Description
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease (HD), is a chronic
disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and
Mycobacterium lepromatosis.Named after physician Gerhard
Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of
the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract;
skin lesions are the primary external sign. Left untreated, leprosy
can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin,
nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not
cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb or
diseased as a result of secondary infections; these occur as a
result of the body’s defences being compromised by the primary
disease. Secondary infections, in turn, can result in tissue loss
causing fingers and toes to become shortened and deformed, as
cartilage is absorbed into the body.
Although the mode of transmission of Hansen’s disease remains
uncertain, most investigators think that M. leprae is usually
Description
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease (HD), is a chronic
disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and
Mycobacterium lepromatosis.Named after physician Gerhard
Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of
the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract;
skin lesions are the primary external sign. Left untreated, leprosy
can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin,
nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not
cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb or
diseased as a result of secondary infections; these occur as a
result of the body’s defences being compromised by the primary
disease. Secondary infections, in turn, can result in tissue loss
causing fingers and toes to become shortened and deformed, as
cartilage is absorbed into the body.
Although the mode of transmission of Hansen’s disease remains
uncertain, most investigators think that M. leprae is usually
