Leprosy really contagious and incurable

Having a clear understanding about some of the more prevalent as well as dangerous medical conditions in today’s world can be something of a life saver as the knowledge will help you identify as well as understand the symptoms better. This knowledge would allow you not only to make a relatively correct diagnosis, but also prompt you to seek medical help in order to deal with the condition. Leprosy is one of the oldest known medical conditions and is caused by the bacteria – mycrobacterium leprae.

This bacteria is known to cause significant harm to the skin as well as the peripheral nervous system. Though leprosy is a very talked about condition, certain facts about leprosy are not known to all. Most people often ask questions like, what is leprosy, how is leprosy transmitted, is leprosy curable and so on.

All of these questions are easily answerable now that modern medicine has been able to deal with the condition. While the most noticeable impact of leprosy is in no doubt the aesthetical effect it has on a person’s skin, the social stigma attached to it is quite considerable. However, extensive studies have shown that as much as about 95% of all human population is not susceptible to infection and with the advancement of science, certain options used as treatment for leprosy are known to be very beneficial.

The entire process of the development of leprosy is known to be very gradual, with the condition sometimes taking as much as 40 years to develop completely in some cases. The condition will see the development of skin lesions and deformities that affect the cooler places on the body such as the eyes, nose, earlobes, feet, hands and even testicles. It is primarily because of the impact that the condition had on a person’s aesthetic appeal that a number of people suffering from the condition were treated as social outcasts in some of the more historical civilizations. Some of that social stigma still exists today with people suffering from the condition being consciously avoided. Historians and research scientists attribute the condition to having been around for over 4000 years and was especially known to be prominent in the civilizations of ancient China, India as well as Egypt. The number of people affected by the condition has significantly reduced over a period of time, largely thanks to the advancement of medical science in addition to people becoming more aware of the details of the condition and becoming more sympathetic to the cause of people suffering from the condition. The concept of MTD (or multi drug therapy) is considered to be the leading light in the treatment of leprosy and was initiated in the 1980’s thereby giving people suffering from the condition some significant hope of treatment. In fact, because of the fact that the stigma attached to leprosy was so intense and still exists to some degree, the condition is called Hansen’s disease by most clinics and doctors in order to protect the patient from the same stigma.

Treatment for leprosy is essential as, if the condition were to be left untreated, the condition can be progressive and cause significant as well as permanent damage to the tissues in the skin, limbs, nerves and eyes. One of the biggest problems that is regularly faced when dealing with the condition is the fact that a surprisingly large number of medical workers in the United States of America are not sufficiently trained on the topic of leprosy – leading to any care or treatment for the condition being substantially delayed. Socio economic standings are considered to have some influence on deciding which people are at a greater risk of developing the condition than others, with people living in areas with poor living conditions being the ones at most risk. Any detrimental living conditions that have the ability to compromise immune function such as contaminated water, an insufficient and improper diet or even inadequate bedding are all known to be a cause of leprosy in many people.

Some recent research also shows that the person would be more prone to the disease if there is some sort of imperfection in the cell mediated immunity.

In today’s world, the World Health Organization is making very significant strides in its mission to eradicate leprosy from the planet. While treatment of the condition is possible and commonplace, they strive to get this medication as well as treatment to people situated in the most remote parts of the world that do not have access to the same. Most people are often worried about how the condition is transmitted from one to the other. Medical research shows that the bacteria M. leprae is spread from one person to another through nasal secretions or droplets. The theory is that the infected droplets are inhaled by another individual and start the infection while they can also have the same effect when they are able to enter cracks and breaks in the skin.

Although the condition is best diagnosed in a clinic through a series of medical tests, it is worth keeping in mind the fact that since the condition is primarily rife in areas that have substandard living conditions, there is probably no adequate medical facility close to the patients. As a result, understanding the various symptoms of leprosy is probably the best method to ensure that accurate diagnosis has been performed. As with any condition, prevention against leprosy is primarily about understanding the factors that can cause it to develop. As a result, prevention any kind of contact with nasal droplets or any kind of secretion from patients suffering from the condition is of utmost priority and studies have shown that individuals living with people suffering from untreated leprosy are as much as eight times more likely to be suffering from the condition.

Although there is no commercially available vaccine available to treat the condition, some medical reports list BCG vaccine used along with heat killed M. leprae organisms as being very helpful in clearing the condition. Despite the fact that the bacteria is known to exist in animals such as chimpanzees, nin banded armadillos and mangabey monkeys, whilst rarely transferring the bacterium to humans, it is not advisable to handle these animals in the wild as they happen to be the primary source of endemic infection.