Hesperian Health Guides
Chapter 26: Leprosy: Hansen’s Disease
 loss of feeling (burns and scars) |
 loss of eyebrows
thick or lumpy ear lobes
thick nerves
marks or rings without feeling inside |
 deformities of hands and feet
painless ulcers of the feet | |
How do people get leprosy? ? It can spread only from some persons who have untreated leprosy, and only to other persons who have low resistance to the disease. It is probably spread either through sneezing or coughing, or through skin contact. Most persons have a natural ability to resist infection. Either they do not get it at all, or they get an unnoticeable infection that soon goes away completely.
From the time a person is first infected with leprosy germs, it often takes 2 to 7 years for the first signs of the disease to appear.
Leprosy is not caused by evil spirits, by doing something bad, by eating certain foods, or by bathing in river water, as some people believe. It is not hereditary and children of mothers with leprosy are not born with it. However, children who live in close contact with someone who has untreated leprosy are more likely to get it.
How common is leprosy? Leprosy is much more common in some parts of the world than others. It is more common where there are crowded living conditions and poor hygiene. But rich people can also get it.
More than 1 million people have leprosy, many in Africa, South America, and Asia. But 16 million people have been cured of leprosy over the past 20 years.
Leprosy can be cured. There are medicines that kill leprosy germs. Usually a few days after beginning treatment, a person can no longer spread the disease to others. (In fact, most persons, when leprosy is first diagnosed, can no longer spread it.) However, treatment must be continued for 6 to 12 months for a cure and to prevent the disease from coming back (relapse).
Is early treatment important? Yes. Early treatment stops the spread of leprosy to others. Also, if treatment is started before loss of feeling and paralysis of muscles in eyes, hands and feet, recovery is complete and the person will not experience negative physical or social effects.
Persons receiving regular, effective treatment do not spread leprosy.