Leprosy, known medically as Hansen’s disease, is an infectious disease known since ancient times. If in the past such a diagnosis meant almost certain death, today the disease can be treated if it is discovered in time.
Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. The disease can affect the nerves, skin, eyes and nasal mucosa. In some cases, certain parts of the body may lose sensitivity to touch and pain, which increases the risk of injuries such as cuts and burns, writes the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The bacteria that causes leprosy grows very slowly. It can take up to 20 years from contact with the bacteria until signs of the disease appear.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms mainly affect the skin, nerves and nasal mucosa. If left untreated or if treatment is started late, the disease can lead to serious complications and disability.
The main symptoms include:
- spots on the skin that may be red or have a loss of pigmentation;
- skin areas with diminished or absent sensations;
- numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, arms, and legs;
- painless sores or burns on the hands and feet;
- muscle weakness.
Also, people with untreated leprosy can develop:
- thick or stiff skin;
- affected peripheral nerves;
- loss of eyelashes or eyebrows;
- nasal congestion;
- nosebleeds.
How it spreads
The bacterium Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy. It does not spread easily from person to person. Close and prolonged contact, over many months, with a person who has untreated leprosy is necessary to contract the disease.
Leprosy is most likely transmitted when a sick person coughs or sneezes, and a healthy person repeatedly inhales the droplets over a long period of time.
About 95% of people can’t get leprosy because their immune system can fight off the bacteria that causes it. The disease is not transmitted through sexual contact and is not transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy.
There is a greater risk of leprosy for people who live in areas where the disease is widespread, including some regions of Asia, Africa, and South America.
Thus, the most exposed to the risk of contracting the disease are the inhabitants of the countries where leprosy is still widespread, i.e. the populations of Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, United Republic of Tanzania; Asia: Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, but also America: Brazil.
Diagnosis and treatment
Doctors can diagnose leprosy through a medical consultation and diagnostic tests, such as a skin biopsy. They may notice patches of skin that are lighter, darker, or redder than normal skin color and check to see if these areas have lost sensitivity.
To confirm the diagnosis, doctors take a skin or nerve sample, which is analyzed under a microscope to identify the bacteria that causes leprosy. Tests may also be performed to rule out other dermatological conditions.
If the diagnosis is confirmed, leprosy is treated with a combination of antibiotics, and treatment usually lasts between one and two years. The disease can be cured if the treatment is followed according to medical indications.
According to specialists, antibiotics cannot treat, however, the nerve damage that can occur as a result of Hansen’s disease. The doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory drugs to manage painful symptoms.
On average, recovery from leprosy treatment takes 1-2 years. During the entire period of treatment, the doctor must monitor the patient’s progress.
The first case, confirmed in Romania after four decades
The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rogobete, announced on Thursday evening that a case of leprosy has been confirmed, and three other suspicions are under analysis. He specified that all four people are female and of Asian origin.
They are employed at a SPA salon in Cluj-Napoca, which is why the Ministry of Health through DSP ordered the suspension of the salon’s activity until the epidemiological investigation is completed. The WHO-specific treatment for leprosy was started. After initiation of treatment, the risk of transmission decreases to zero, according to international protocols.
However, the Minister of Health pointed out that the risk to the general population remains low, and the situation is being managed with maximum responsibility. The State Sanitary Inspection within the Ministry of Health will monitor this situation daily, in coordination with local and national public health teams.
