Definition:
Hansen's disease, more commonly known as leprosy, is a chronic contagious disease that causes severe disfigurement on the skin, face, hand and feet. It was once a dreaded epidemic.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis can be done though physical examination of the symptoms as well as tests for presence of the bacteria in the body.
Treatment:
Effective treatment of leprosy is done by intakes of the drug dapsone. Multi-drug therapies are given to fight the bacteria and stop it from doing further damages to the body. The disfigurement however, is no longer reversible.
Symptoms and Signs:
Among the symptoms of leprosy are the development of nodules and folds of skin that produce itchiness. Cataracts are also incurred by the patient. As the disease develops the lesions eat up the nerves, causing eventual decay of the affected areas. Loss of sensation and tenderness of the skin are also observed.
Causes:
Leprosy is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. This strain of bacteria can be found in warm weather. Leprosy is mostly a tropical disease.
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