By Kellie Byrd Microbiology

Most people know

Hansens Disease by its common name, Leprosy. Leprosy is a disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It causes damage to the skin and the peripheral nerve system.

 Leprosy is one of the

oldest diseases on record. The oldest skeletal proof of leprosy is a 4,000 year old skeleton found in India. Before this find the oldest record of leprosy was from an Egyptian tablet dated about 1550 B.C.

 Leprosy is found

mentioned in text from Ancient Egypt, Rome, India, and China. It is even mentioned in the Bible. In 1873, Dr. Gerhard Hansen discovered the bacteria that causes leprosy in leprosy lesions.

 Lepers were ostracized

by society who believe that leprosy was hereditary or a punishment from God. Many were confined to leper colonies like the one on Molokai, Hawaii. This colony was established in 1866 and finally closed in 1969.

 As mentioned Leprosy is

caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. The bacillus is very slow growing and grows best in the extremities. M. leprae is genetically related to M. tuberculosis.

 Early signs and symptoms are

very subtle and occur slowly. First symptoms are numbness and loss of temperature sensation. This progresses to the decrease or loss of the sensation of touch, pain, and deep pressure. Signs are ulcers, skin lesions, and eye damage followed by large ulcerations, loss of digits and facial disfigurement.

 Indeterminate leprosy

(IL) Tuberculoid leprosy (TT) Borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT) Borderline borderline leprosy (BB) Borderline lepromatous leprosy (BL) Lepromatous leprosy (LL)

 Transmission-spread
person to person by nasal secretions or droplets.

Diagnosis-Most cases of
leprosy are diagnosed by clinical findings, since most current cases are diagnosed in areas with limited or no lab equipment available. Skin smears or biopsy material that show acidfast bacilli can be diagnosed with the ZielNelson stain or the Fite stain.

Precautionsprevention of contact with droplets from nasal and other secretions.

 In the early 20th century,

leprosy was treated with an injection of chaulmoogra nut oil until the late 1940s when it was discontinued due to its painful treatment and inadequate results. Treatment today is with the use of antibiotics, dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine.

 Current Research Pauci-bacillary (PB)

Prognosis-

leprosy: 1 to 5 lesionsRegimen of two drugsRifampcin and Dapsone for 6 months. Multi-bacillary (MB) leprosy: > 5 lesionsRegimen of three drugs Rifampcin, Clofazimine, and Dapsone for 12 months.

Leprosy is curable,

however deformities and nerve damage are permanent. Physical therapy and reconstructive surgery have helped. Currently the level of leprosy world wide is stable.