Leprosy/ Hansen’s disease
Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease. This infection is caused by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae.
Armadillos are naturally infected with the bacteria mycobacterium laprae that cause Hansen’s disease in human.
It can affect the nerves, skin, eyes, and lining of the nose (nasal mucosa).
Mycobacterium leprae primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves, invades schwann cells.
Etiology
1. Contact with Bacillus Mycobacterium leprae natural host armadillos.
2. Infected person with Hansen’s disease coughs or sneezes, and healthy person breathes in the droplets containing the bacteria.
Clinical Manifestations
This diseases mainly affect the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes (soft, moist areas just inside the body’s openings).
Skin symptoms such as;
1. Large, discolored lesion on the chest
2. Discolored patches of skin (lighter than the skin around)
3. Growths (nodules) on the skin
4. Thick, stiff or dry skin
5. Painless ulcers on the soles of feet
6. chronic inflammatory lesion (granuloma)
Symptoms Caused by Damage to Nerves such as;
1. Numbness of affected areas of skin
2. Muscle weakness or paralysis (especially in the hands and feet)
3. skin patch was numb when touched.
Symptoms caused by Disease in the mucous membranes such as;
1. Stuffy nose
2. Nosebleeds
Pathogenesis
If left untreated;
1. Paralysis of hands and feet
2. Painful or tender nerves
3. Chronic non-healing ulcers on the bottoms of the feet
4. Blindness
5. Loss of eyebrows
6. Nose disfigurement
7. Redness and pain around the affected area
8. Burning sensation in the skin
Lab Diagnosis
1. Acid-fast bacilli
2. Microscopic examination;
3. Skin biopsy
4. Nasal smears
Treatment
Hansen’s disease is treated with multidrug therapy (MDT) using a combination of antibiotics depending on the form of the disease.
MDT medication are dapsone with rifampicin, and clofazimine.
