World Leprosy Day: Timely Diagnosis Is Important

Every year throughout the world on the last Sunday of January, World Leprosy Day is celebrated in order to raise awareness about the same, this year the day falls on 31st January 2021. However, in India, the day is observed on 30th January, marking the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

World Leprosy Day was first observed by a French Humanitarian, Raoul Follereau in 1953. The main aim of this day is to completely eradicate the disease that causes disabilities in children. Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease, caused by a slow growing bacteria, Mycobacterium Leprae. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, There were 2,08,619 new leprosy cases registered globally in 2018, according to official figures from 159 countries from the 6 WHO Regions. Based on 1,84,212 cases at the end of 2018, the prevalence rate corresponds to 0.2/10 000.

What Is Leprosy?

Leprosy 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). As 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.

Signs And Symptoms Of Leprosy

Since the disease affects skin, nerves and mucous membranes, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states the possible signs and symptoms of leprosy, which are as follows:

The disease can cause skin symptoms such as:

• Discolored patches of skin, usually flat, that may be numb and look faded (lighter than the skin around)
• Growths (nodules) on the skin
• Thick, stiff or dry skin
• Painless ulcers on the soles of feet
• Painless swelling or lumps on the face or earlobes
• Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes

Symptoms caused by damage to the nerves are:

• Numbness of affected areas of the skin
• Muscle weakness or paralysis (especially in the hands and feet)
• Enlarged nerves (especially those around the elbow and knee and in the sides of the neck)
• Eye problems that may lead to blindness (when facial nerves are affected)

Symptoms caused by the disease in the mucous membranes are:

• A stuffy nose
• Nosebleeds

Complications Of The Disease

Although the disease can be treated if diagnosed on time. But, delayed diagnosis and improper treatment can cause certain disabilities. Since it causes nerve damages, it can result in crippling of hands and feet, paralysis and sometimes even blindness. Other complications may include infertility, hair loss (especially on the brows and eyelashes), kidney failure, disfiguration of the face, permanent nerve damage, erectile dysfunction, etc.

Treatment

Treatment of leprosy is available free of cost at all government dispensaries in India, as stated by the National Health Portal (NHP) of India. However, not just in India, its treatment is free of cost worldwide too. The disease can be treated with a combination of drugs, which is commonly referred to as the Multidrug Therapy (MDT). It is important that the full course of MDT should be completed as prescribed by the medical expert. The treatment may last for a year or two.

Therefore, leprosy is a curable disease. Its early diagnosis is important otherwise it can result in irreversible complications.