Leprosy: Rare But Frightening Disease

It has been with us since ancient times. Its very name strikes fear in the hearts of men and women everywhere. That disease is leprosy – a mutilating and incurable illness.

Hansen's disease is the polite term for leprosy which is caused by mycobacterium leprae, bacteria closely related to the tuberculosis bacteria.

Leprosy got its formal name from a Norwegian physician who first identified the infecting organism in the 19th century. The disease is believed to be acquired during childhood by prolonged contact with the bacter¬ia. This enters the body through a break in the skin or through the nose or throat.

There are two types: nodular (lepomatous) and neu¬ral (tuberculoid), and it may take years before the symptoms are first noticed. Large red patches on the skin are early signs of infection.

"In the nodular form of the disease, the reddish swellings which form on the face begin to harden and become painful. As they spread, they blend into areas of insensitivity. If untreated, the ears, nose, forearms and thighs are affected; the face becomes puffy and the eyes seem to sink into the swollen tissue surrounding them. The tongue, pharynx and larynx ulcerate, and if healing does occur, the tissue may remain severely scarred," according to the late Dr. Morris Fishbein in his “Popu¬lar Illustrated Medical Encyclopedia.”

"In the neural type of Hansen's disease, large parts of the body surface become insensitive to pain, muscles begin to waste away which sometimes result in contrac¬tion of the hand into a claw, and ulceration of the toes and fingers may lead to gangrene," Fishbein added.

Contrary to popular belief, there is no need to isolate people with leprosy who are undergoing treatment. Neither is the disease contagious as many wrongly assume it to be.

"Although it is transmitted person-to-person, it is one of the least contagious of infectious diseases, with only about three percent of those exposed to it ever contracting it. The belief that the disease was inevitably contracted merely by touching an infected person is known to be false," Fishbein said.

No special diet is required for lepers. Nor should you limit your physical activities unless your doctor directs you to do otherwise. If he or she does, it will probably be due to your age not because you have leprosy. Consult a physician regarding sexual activities since these usually entail continuous close contact which is a sure way of spreading the disease.

"Although leprosy isn't highly contagious, take precautions against the possible spread of infection. Cover coughs or sneezes with a paper tissue and dis¬pose of it properly. Take infection precautions when handling clothing or other articles that have been in contact with any open skin lesions," warned Joanne D'Agostino of the Massachusetts General Hos¬pital in “Diseases.”

Drug treatment is effec¬tive but it may take years to work. Even without treat¬ment, the disease is rarely fatal but it can eventually disable a person.

"In addition to drug therapy, treatment involves physical therapy for rehabilitation of affected muscles and, in many cases, psychiatric counseling for both the victim and family so that they can be relieved of the added burden of anxiety caused by the stigma tradi¬tionally associated with the disease,' Fishbein con¬cluded.

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