Leprosy Overview
Learn About Leprosy
Leprosy, also called Hansen disease, is a disorder known since ancient times. It is caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae and is contagious, which means that it can be passed from person to person. It is usually contracted by breathing airborne droplets from affected individuals' coughs and sneezes, or by coming into contact with their nasal fluids. However, it is not highly transmissible, and approximately 95 percent of individuals who are exposed to Mycobacterium leprae never develop leprosy. The infection can be contracted at any age, and signs and symptoms can take anywhere from several months to 20 years to appear.
Combinations of many variations in genes involved in the immune system affect a person's likelihood of contracting Mycobacterium leprae infection if exposed to the bacteria. Gene variations affecting the immune system also help determine the form of leprosy that individuals develop if the Mycobacterium leprae infection takes hold.
About 250,000 new cases of leprosy are diagnosed every year. The condition occurs worldwide, but is most common in India, Brazil, and other areas with warm climates. Between 100 and 250 new cases per year occur in the United States.
Leprosy is not inherited, but people can inherit an increased risk of contracting leprosy if they are exposed to the Mycobacterium leprae bacteria. Susceptibility tends to run in families, but the inheritance pattern is unknown.
Lees Summit Dermatology Associates I PC
Matthew Mcewen is a Dermatologist in Lees Summit, Missouri. Dr. Mcewen and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leprosy. His top areas of expertise are Steatocystoma Multiplex, Pachyonychia Congenita, Ectodermal Dysplasias, and Clouston Syndrome. Dr. Mcewen is currently accepting new patients.
University Health Physicians
Anand Rajpara is a Dermatologist in Kansas City, Missouri. Dr. Rajpara and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leprosy. His top areas of expertise are Melanoma, Actinic Keratosis, Psoriasis, and Warts. Dr. Rajpara is currently accepting new patients.
Heartland Regional Medical Center
Vikas Agarwal is an Internal Medicine provider in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Dr. Agarwal and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Leprosy. His top areas of expertise are Myositis, COVID-19, Nephrotic Syndrome, Vertebroplasty, and Kidney Transplant. Dr. Agarwal is currently accepting new patients.
Summary: Mycobacterium leprae is a slow-growing bacillus that causes leprosy. the infection may take two to ten years to incubate. While the exact mechanism of infection transmission is unknown, direct bacillus absorption through the nasal or respiratory mucosa and aerosolized nasal secretions are the most common theories. The bacteria is subsequently transported by the bloodstream to the peripheral nerves...
Summary: Leprosy is one of the oldest human infectious diseases. It is a chronic infectious contagious, granulomatous disease caused by intracellular bacillus. Mycobacterium leprae, this chronic granulomatous disease presents symptoms that mainly affected the skin, the nervous system and the reticuloendothelial system, also other systems can be affected, such as the upper respiratory tract, bones and joint...
Published Date: February 01, 2018
Published By: National Institutes of Health