by A. M. Gilbert

Created on: June 05, 2008   Last Updated: July 18, 2010

History, Symptoms, and Treatment History

Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is an illness with roots deep in history. The illness, introduced to most people today by the Bible or works of historical fiction, has a distinct character has a disfiguring and horrific sickness. First recorded in an Egyptian papyrus document dated circa 1550 B.C., leprosy continues to effect more than 7,000 people today in the United States alone.

With diagnosis, this disease brings social stigma; not surprising, as, until 1873, it was popular belief that leprosy was hereditary, a curse, or divine punishment for sinners. That year, though, Dr. Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen of Norway identified a germ, named Mycobacterium leprae, as the true cause of leprosy.

This discovery led to the development of new medication; in the 1940s, the Promin drug was found to successfully treat leprosy, though it required many painful injections. A decade later Promin was replaced by Dapsone pills, but the bacterium eventually developed new resistant strains.

In the 1970s the first successful multi-drug treatment was developed through trials on the island of Malta, and today a similar MDT is still used to treat leprosy.

Symptoms

Patients typically do not begin to exhibit symptoms until three to five years after M. leprae enters their systems, although this "incubation period" can range from six months to several decades.

Symptoms are indicative of which form of leprosy the patient has: Tuberculoid, also known as Paucibacillary, leprosy is the "mild" form, whereas Lepromatous, also known as Multibacillary, leprosy is the severe form.

There are differing symptoms depending on the severity of the case. Tuberculoid/Paucibacillary leprosy patients exhibit only one to five skin lesions, which can be lighter than normal skin or slightly red, as well as desensitized to touch, light, heat, etc.; muscle weakness in the hands and feet; eye problems; and enlarged nerves, especially around the elbow and knee.

Lepromatous/Multibacillary leprosy symptoms feature a lot more variety: these can include more than five skin lesions; a symmetrical rash found on the face, ears, knees, elbows, wrists or buttocks- this rash can be large or small, light or dark, flat or raised; thickened facial skin; laryngitis; bloody nose; collapsing of the nose; thinning of eyebrows and lashes; swelling of the lymph nodes in the groin and armpits; and scarring of the testes.

Associated complications include loss of fingers or toes if injured, blindness, and an increased risk for arthritis.

Treatment

Today doctors prescribe a multi-drug treatment to patients. Those with Paucibacillary leprosy are given Rifampicin and Dapsone for 6 months, and those with Multibacillary leprosy are given Rifampicin, Clofazimine and Dapsone for 12 months.

These drugs are provided by the UN's World Health Organization to all endemic countries free of charge and are not available on the open market; hence, there is no chance of misuse. The medication stops the spread of leprosy within a patient after first use, and patients on treatment are not contagious.

After completing treatment, patients are totally cured. A pale or reddened patch of skin with decreased sensitivity is a major sign of leprosy. Anyone with such a symptom should see a doctor right away; early diagnosis and treatment prevents deformities.

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