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Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a relative of the tuberculosis causing bacterium.It cannot be grown in artificial medium and only mice and armadillos can be used to culture the bacteria.
Leprosy, unlike tuberculosis can only be transmitted through contact with infected patients.It is easily spread where people live together and share their belongings.
After a long incubation period of a few years,the bacteria will become active. The bacteria affects the nerves just below the skin, causing the patient to lose sensations of pain and injure themselves severely that toes and fingers are broken.The eyes cannot shut, resulting in blindness.Swollen reddish patches appear and cause disfigurement.This is due to the bbody's immune system over reacting.
Antibiotics like rifampin and sulfone drugs like dapsone are used to treat leprosy.Long periods of treatment are required to render patients non-infectious.Drugs are used together to prevent mutiple-drug resistant leporsy from developing.
Avoid contact with known patients.Good sanitation can reduce the spread of leprosy.A vaccine is under development.
Leprosy is derived from the Greek word" lepra" which means blotches in skin.Later the disease was renamed Hansen's disease to stop people from using the unpleasant name of leprosy.
