Leprosy
Leprosy is known to be a chronic disease of the bacterium known as mycobacterium leprae. It affects the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, and lining of the upper respiratory tract. Leprosy is an age-old disease that has been known for many years and has been seen as a pariah among members of the family and society. It is worth noting that leprosy affects men more than women, but in some regions of Africa women may be diagnosed with higher rates than men Or leprosy. Individuals with leprosy may be affected by leprosy at any age but are often found in children under 10 years of age. These children account for 20% of leprosy cases.
Symptoms of leprosy
Leprosy symptoms often require a long period of time to appear, called the period from the moment of leprosy causing bacteria and the onset of incubation period. Leprosy is characterized by the length of incubation; it usually lasts from three to five years, To twenty years, and this may make it difficult for doctors to determine the location and time to catch the infected person. And the most symptoms that appear on leprosy skin ulcers, and the appearance of small lumps and protrusions, and often pale color, and continue for weeks to several months, as well as those with leprosy suffer from weakness in the muscles and loss of sensation of limbs or numbness in the result of nerve damage, It is worth mentioning that nerve damage may include the nerves of the eyes, causing vision problems that may amount to blindness, and because of the ability of leprosy to affect the mucous membranes, it may cause the nose and stifling the nose.
Treatment of leprosy
Leprosy is a treatable disease. The treatment depends on the type and shape of the leprosy that affects the person, but often the treatment includes the following pharmacological groups:
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics are given to treat the bacterial infection that caused the appearance of leprosy, but antibiotics can not treat nerve damage. Doctors often prescribe two or more antibiotics for six months to a year. Longer, and antibiotics used in the treatment of leprosy what follows:
- Dapsone.
- Rifampin.
- Clofazimine.
- Minocycline.
- Ofloxacin.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs: Anti-inflammatory drugs are designed to control the damage and nerve pain caused by leprosy, such as steroids such as prednisone.
- Immunosuppressants: Doctors may release immunosuppressants to leprosy patients to control skin symptoms by inhibiting the immune system. Thalidomide may be prescribed, but it should be noted that thalidomide may not be used in pregnant women or those who plan for pregnancy because of serious problems In the fetus.
Complications of leprosy
The delay in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease may cause some serious complications, including the following complications:
- Hair loss, especially eyebrows and eye eyelashes.
- Inability to use hands and feet.
- Nasal problems such as chronic nasal congestion, nasal bleeding, and nasal septum.
- Irrititis.
- Glaucoma, which causes damage to the optic nerve.
- Erectile Dysfunction and infertility.
- Kidney failure.
- Paralysis of hands and feet.
- Palms of hands and feet.
- Redness and pain around the affected area.
- Damage to the nerves of the feet and permanent hands.
- Permanent insurable ulcers in the soles of the foot.
Methods of transmission of leprosy
Scientists have not yet determined the exact pathways of leprosy, but some scientists believe that leprosy may be spread by inhaling droplets from sneezing or coughing. Scientists have denied the possibility of transmission through leprosy, Shaking hands, hugging or sitting with the injured on food tables or side by side in buses and others. It should be noted that the disease does not spread during sex or from mother to child during pregnancy, but often the disease is transmitted from the infected person to others at the time of contact and stay near From him long months.
Types and forms of leprosy
Leprosy can be classified according to the degree of severity of the disease to multiple forms or stages, and it should be noted that the strength of the immune system plays a key role in determining the degree of disease; the stronger the immune system was the severity of the disease is less severe, and it is worth mentioning that the disease may move from the stage Depending on the strength of the immune system as well; it may progress to a more advanced stage in the event of weakness of the immune system, or back down a stage in the case of the strength of the immune system, and can be classified stages of leprosy, according to the severity to the following:
- Indeterminate leprosy.
- Tuberculoid leprosy.
- Leprosypuloid leprosy.
- Leprosy known as borderline borderline leprosy.
- Lepromatous leprosy.
- Lepromatous leprosy.