Leprosy, also known as Hansen's

disease (HD) after the scientist who discovered M. leprae in 1873, is an infectious disease that causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms and legs.

 The

disease has been around since the beginning of time, often surrounded by terrifying, negative stigma and tales of leprosy patients being shunned as outcasts. At one time or another outbreaks of leprosy have affected, and panicked, people on every continent. The oldest civilizations of China, Egypt, and India feared leprosy was an incurable, mutilating, and contagious disease. Children are more likely to get leprosy than adults.

 The main symptom of leprosy is

disfiguring skin sores, lumps, or bumps that do not go away after several weeks or months. The skin sores are palecolored. Nerve damage can lead to: Loss of feeling in the arms and legs Muscle weakness

Countries

Registered prevalence (cases per 10,000 pop.)

New case detection (rate/100,000 pop.)

Start of 2004
Brazil Mozambique Nepal 79,908 (4.6) 6,810 (3.4) 7,549 (3.1) 5,420 (1.6)

Start of 2005
30,693 (1.7) 4,692 (2.4) 4,699 (1.8) 4,777 (1.3)

Start of 2006
27,313 (1.5) 4,889 (2.5) 4,921 (1.8) 4,190 (1.1)

During 2003
49,206 (28.6) 5,907 (29.4) 8,046 (32.9) 5,279 (15.4)

During 2004
49,384 (26.9) 4,266 (22.0) 6,958 (26.2) 5,190 (13.8)

During 2005
38,410 (20.6) 5,371 (27.1) 6,150 (22.7) 4,237 (11.1)

Tanzania

 Leprosy can be cured. In the last two decades,

more than 14 million people with leprosy have been cured.

Treatment depends on the type of leprosy that you

have. Antibiotics are used to treat the infection. Long-term treatment with two or more antibiotics is recommended, usually from six months to a year.

 Blindness or glaucoma. Disfiguration of the face (including permanent swelling,

bumps, and lumps). Erectile dysfunction and infertility in men. Kidney failure. Muscle weakness that leads to claw-like hands or an inability to flex the feet. Permanent damage to the inside of the nose, which can lead to nosebleeds and a chronic, stuffy nose. Permanent damage to the peripheral nerves, the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, including those in your arms, legs, and feet.

 Nerve damage can lead to a dangerous loss of feeling.

A person with leprosy-related nerve damage may not feel pain when the hands, legs, or feet are cut, burned, or otherwise injured. Approximately 1 to 2 million people worldwide are permanently disabled because of leprosy.

 Why Leprosy is also named Hansens disease?

When it was discovered?

Explain what is Leprosy. What the main Leprosys symptoms?

Observing the chart in the slide 6, answer the

informations: What the county that have more new cases detected What the country that have less new cases detected.

 Explain how Leprosy is treated. Show some Leprosy complications.