This year, in 2022, World Leprosy Day is being celebrated on 30th January around the world. Leprosy Day in India is always celebrated on 30th January itself, which also marks the death anniversary of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi.
The global figures of leprosy are still high. In 2020, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were 1,27,558 new leprosy cases detected globally according to official figures from 139 countries from the 6 WHO Regions. This includes 8 629 children below 15 years. The new case detection rate among the child population was recorded at 4.4 per million child population. But what exactly is leprosy?
Understanding the disease
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium Leprae, which multiplies at a slow rate and the incubation period of the disease is 5 years (on an average). WHO states, The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. Leprosy is known to occur at all ages ranging from early infancy to very old age. Leprosy is curable and treatment in the early stages can prevent disability. Leprosy is likely transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contact with untreated cases.
It is mainly classified into two categories:
- Paucibacillary (PB)- few (up to five) skin lesions (pale or reddish)
- Multibacillary (MB)- multiple (more than five) skin lesions, nodules, plaques, thickened dermis or skin infiltration
What are the symptoms?