Leprosy

Aaron Taubenheim & Cassie Strauss

__**What is Leprosy?**__ Leprosy is caused by mycobacterium leprae and it causes damage to the skin and the peripheral nervous system.

__**What it does**__ It causes disfigurement, muscle weakness, permanent nerve damage in the arms, and legs sensory loss.

__**What are the symptoms?**__ Most of the symptoms for leprosy occur slowly and are very subtle. Numbness can occur along with loss of temperature sensation in the earliest stages. As the diesease progresses, senations of touch, then pain, and eventually deep pressure are decreased or lost. Some signs for leprosy are painless ulcers, skin lesions, and eye damage.When leprosy occurs it usually shows up in the eyes, nose, earlobes, hands, and feet.

**__Cures__** Management of leprosy is aimed at stopping infection and minimizing potential physical deformities. A number of different antibiotics are used to kill the bacteria that cause the disease. More than one antibiotic is often given together. Surgery may sometimes be used to drain abscesses to restore nerve function, reconstruct collapsed noses, or to improve function or appearance of affected areas.

__**If left untreated**__ If left untreated, leprosy can progress to cause serious effects on the body. Leprosy bacteria will attack the nerves in the hands and feet and cause them to become numb. Fingers and toes can be lost to infection. If the infection is serious then they might have to cut it off. May cause the fingers and toes to curl up permanently. Leprosy bacteria attacks the nerves around the eyes, causing the loss of blinking reflex. The eyes become dry and infected, and blindness may occur. Plus, Damage to the internal lining of the nose causes scarring and eventual collapse of the nose.

__**Where is leprosy found?**__ Leprosy can affect people of all races all around the world. However, it is most common in warm, wet areas in the tropics and subtropics. Found in 5 countries: Leprosy presents most often during two different periods of life, between the ages of 10 and 14 and in those aged 35-44 years old. It is rarely seen in infants.
 * India
 * Indonesia
 * Myanmar
 * Brazil
 * Nigeria.

__**Different types**__ There are several forms of leprosy that range from the mildest form to the most severe type. The effects are different depending on the type you have. Some people never show signs because there immune system will take care of it, but it does not go away completely.

__**Other things about leprosy**__ Leprosy is painless and it does not itch, so they are often ignored by a patient. It also lasts a long time,it usually occurs for 2 and 8 years, but it can be up to 20 years in some cases.



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