30/01/2023
30/1/2023- World Leprosy Day
Leprosy also known as kusht rog in hindi is one of the major concerns of developing countries like India. Leprosy is a bacterial illness caused by the bacteria Myobacterium Leprae.
India has a huge case load of Leprosy, with more than half of the cases coming from india, it becomes of utmost Importance that we understand a few concepts that will help India eradicate this disease.
So starting from the start, since ancient time Leprosy is believed to be contagious disease and people treat patients as untouchables. However the situation is exactly opposite. It would be highly wrong to say Leprosy can't be transmitted from infected person. It can, via droplets, but it would take at least 6 months to 20 yrs of close contact before you get leprosy from another patient. So why do people get leprosy then?
Basically, living in unhygienic unhealthy surrounding make you prone to leprosy.
When the body's immunity is down like in states like malnutrition/HIV infection/ chemotherapy etc, this bacteria is aggressive at this moment.
Symptoms may differ in different types of leprosy but broadly speaking, the patient might have a reduced feeling of sensation over part of body (hand/foot/chest) , eye brows may be lessened, he/she might have single or multiple nodules scattered over the body, hypopigmented skin (or unevenly pigmented patches of skin) etc.
The age of patients affected mostly lie under 2 categories 1) 5-15 yrs 2) 30+yrs
We have effectively managed to find a cure to leprosy and hence one doesn't need to fear if he/she has leprosy.
Leprosy should not be made an untouchable disease.
STAY INFORMED STAY HEALTHY
