Leprosy, also called Hansen disease, is a chronic bacterial infection primarily affecting the skin and peripheral nerves usually caused by Mycobacterium leprae. The form the disease takes depends on the person’s immune response to the infection. Who gets leprosy? Leprosy can affect people of all races anywhere in the world.

Sep 14, 2023 · Leprosy is defined by the number and type of skin sores you have. Specific symptoms and treatment depend on the type you have. The types are: Tuberculoid. A mild, less severe form. People with...

Apr 11, 2024 · Hansen's disease (also known as leprosy) is caused by slow growing bacteria. Symptoms mainly affect the skin, nerves, and lining of the nose. Loss of sensation in affected areas can occur, increasing the risk of injuries going unnoticed due to the decreased ability to sense touch and pain.

Apr 3, 2025 · Leprosy (also called Hansen’s disease) is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae (my-co-bak-TEER-ee-um LEP-pray). It can affect your eyes, skin, mucous membranes and nerves, causing disfiguring sores and nerve damage. Leprosy has been around since ancient times.

Early leprosy symptoms involve patchy rashes or reddish skin lesions, often with reduced or absent sensation. Mild nerve pain, numbness, or swelling may also arise before more advanced nerve damage occurs.

Jun 19, 2023 · Assess for physical signs of leprosy in 3 general areas: cutaneous lesions, neuropathies, and eyes. For cutaneous lesions, assess the number and distribution of skin lesions. A hypopigmented...

Oct 25, 2023 · Leprosy is a chronic, progressive bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the nerves of the extremities, the skin, the lining of the nose, and the...

Jun 19, 2023 · In general, leprosy affects the skin, peripheral nerves, and eyes. Systemic symptoms of leprosy are also possible. Specific symptoms vary with the severity of the disease. Prodromal...

Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, is a complex infectious disease caused by a bacterium. The disease is often mistakenly identified as the "leprosy of the Old Testament," which has been clearly shown not to be Hansen's disease. Hansen's disease is not highly contagious and 95 percent of the human population has a natural immunity.

What are the symptoms of leprosy? Symptoms start slowly. At first you may have: Later, more severe symptoms include: How do doctors tell if I have leprosy? Doctors will take a sample of your skin and look at it under a microscope. How do doctors treat leprosy? People with a weak immune system may need to take antibiotics for a longer time.