Lepra. Leprosy

Slide 1
Leprosy is a disease, which causes damage to skin and peripheral nervous system. It’s spread from person to person by nasal secrations or droplets. However, the disease is not highly contagious like the flu. They speculate that infected droplets reach other peoples' nasal passages and begin the infection there. Some investigators suggest the infected droplets can infect others by entering breaks in the skin. The disease develops slowly (6 months – 40 years) and results in skin lesions and deformities, most often affecting the cooler places on the body (eyes, nose, earlobes, hands, feet, and testicles). The skin lesions and deformities can be very disfiguring and are the reason why infected individuals historically were considered outcasts in many cultures. The bacterias, which cause Leprosy were first discovered by Dr. Armauer Hansen from Norway in 1873. That’s the reason why this sickness is often called also Hansen’s disease. Until then it was considered a curse for sinful way of life.
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