Switch to हिंदी

Health, Fitness, Beauty & Diet | Pregnancy & Parenting | Diseases & Home Remedies | TheHealthSite.com

हिंदी
  • Health A-Z
  • Home Remedies
  • Diseases
    • Type 1 Diabetes
    • Type 2 Diabetes
    • Cancer
    • Heart Attack
    • Pneumonia
    • Diseases A-Z
  • Diet & Fitness
    • Weight Management
    • Exercise & Body Building
    • Diet & Recipes
    • Yoga
  • Coronavirus
  • News
  • Pregnancy
    • Conceiving
    • Infertility
    • Labour & Delivery
    • Pregnancy week-by-week
    • Breastfeeding
    • Baby Names
  • Beauty
    • Skin
    • Hair
    • Grooming
  • Photos
  • Videos
Home / Diseases-conditions / Leprosy / World Leprosy Day 2020: A few facts about this much-misunderstood disease and tips for patients

World Leprosy Day 2020: A few facts about this much-misunderstood disease and tips for patients

As we observe World Leprosy Day, it is necessary to highlight a few facts related to this much-misunderstood and maligned disease. Read on to know more.

By: Editorial Team   | Edited by: Jahnavi Sarma   | | Updated: January 30, 2021 1:28 pm
Tags: leprosy Awareness Campaign  Leprosy treatment  World Leprosy Day  World Leprosy Day 2021  
World Leprosy Day, World Leprosy Day 2021, Leprosy, Hansen's Disease., symptoms of leprosy, treatment of leprosy,
Leprosy is almost exclusively a disease of the developing world, affecting areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific.

Leprosy is one disease that has numerous myths associated with it. Patients of this disease are also victims of social stigma attached. Even today, many people believe that it is the result of bad deeds in a past life or ‘bad karmas’. This is unfortunate because leprosy is a disease just like any other and it requires timely and proper medical treatment. As we observe World Leprosy Day, it is necessary to highlight a few facts related to this much-misunderstood disease. Every year, countries across the world observe World Leprosy Day on the last Sunday of January. But in India, this day is observed on January 30, which is also the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The aim of this day is to increase public awareness of leprosy or Hansen’s Disease. The French humanitarian Raoul Follereau chose this day as a tribute to the life of Mahatma Gandhi who was known for his empathy for leprosy patients. Also Read - World Leprosy Day: Top X facts about this disease

A disease of poor countries

Leprosy or Hansen’s Disease is almost exclusively a disease of the developing world, affecting areas of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Pacific. More than 80 per cent of cases occur in countries like India, Myanmar, China, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Madagascar and Nepal. But fortunately, the scenario is gradually undergoing a change. In India today, we have less than 100 thousand cases per year. This decrease can be attributed to an increase in awareness, improved hygiene and, of course, due to advanced medical facilities. But still, on this World Leprosy Day, it is imperative to point out that there are still some 200,000 new cases of leprosy diagnosed globally every year and millions of people have to still live with some form of disability as a result of leprosy. Also Read - World Leprosy Day: Yoga asanas for this condition



Close contact can lead to transmission

You can catch infection only if you come into close and repeated contact with oral and nasal droplets from someone with untreated leprosy.  Close physical contact is necessary for transmission. It is not spread by casual physical contact with infected person like shaking hands, hugging or sitting next to them. Also Read - World Leprosy Day 2020: What are the complications associated with leprosy?

Symptoms to look out for

The main symptom of leprosy is disfiguring skin sores, lumps that don’t go away after several weeks or months. Nerve damage can lead to loss of feeling in the arms and legs and muscle weakness. Leprosy is mainly of two types – tuberculoid and lepromatous. The former is a mild and less contagious form of leprosy and patients with this type have only one or few patches of flat, pale colored skin lesions. The affected areas of skin may feel numb because of nerve damage underneath. Lepromatous leprosy is more severe, and it causes widespread skin bumps and rashes, numbness and muscle weakness.

Skin biopsy can help in diagnosis

For diagnosis of this disease, a doctor does a skin biopsy, which helps detect the presence of bacteria, whether they are live or dead, type of leprosy and even response to treatment. You may have to undergo a lepromin skin test to diagnose which type of leprosy you have. For this test, a doctor will inject a small amount of inactive leprosy causing bacteria just underneath the skin of your forearm. They will check the spot 3 days later and again after 28 days. If you do have a reaction you may have tuberculoid or borderline leprosy.

Timely treatment essential for quality life

Some complications may arise if you receive no proper treatment. Complications occur due to nerve involvement like insensitivity to touch, pain and heat. Disfigurement may occur but it is neither inevitable nor untreatable. Complications can be prevented.

A few precautions that patients must definitely take

It is important to train patients on self-care as the primary means to prevent disability, which includes teaching them to look themselves over daily for ulcers or wounds and care for them properly. Avoid plastic footwear or gloves, cover wounds with clean bandages and look after them well. Protect hands and feet from injury. Be aware of signs of neuropathy. Apply moisturizer on skin to prevent dryness, seek treatment of eye infection at the earliest to preserve vision. Long term treatment, which can take 6 months to 2 years, is the main problem for patient compliance.

(This article is authored by Dr. Shweta S. Sonawane, Consultant Molecular Biologist, Apollo Diagnostics)

Published : January 30, 2021 12:43 pm | Updated:January 30, 2021 1:28 pm
Read Disclaimer

Childhood trauma can change the trajectory of multiple sclerosis treatment in adulthood

Childhood trauma can change the trajectory of multiple sclerosis treatment in adulthood

This therapy boosts confidence in patients battling cancer post-chemotherapy

This therapy boosts confidence in patients battling cancer post-chemotherapy

Please Wait. Article Loading ....

Coronavirus Updates

Coronavirus Updates

Stay Informed, Be Safe

  • Sputnik V: How Does This COVID-19 Vaccine Works And Who All Can Take The Jab
  • Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav Tests COVID-19 Positive; Lucknow Among Worst Hit In Uttar Pradesh
  • 4th Coronavirus Wave: Delhi Becomes Worst Hit COVID State With 13,468 Fresh Cases In 24 Hours
  • WHO Chief: Don't let your guard down, the pandemic is a 'long way from over'
  • Health Problems Due To Work From Home and Tips to Stay Fit Amid The Pandemic

Health Calculators

BMI Calculator
bmi Calculator
Ideal Body Weight
ideal body weight
Daily Calorie Intake
Daily calorie intake
Calories Burned
calories burned

Related Stories

World Leprosy Day: Top X facts about this disease

World Leprosy Day: Top X facts about this disease

World Leprosy Day: Yoga asanas for this condition

World Leprosy Day: Yoga asanas for this condition

World Leprosy Day 2020: What are the complications associated with leprosy?

World Leprosy Day 2020: What are the complications associated with leprosy?

World Leprosy Day 2020: How is this condition diagnosed and treated

World Leprosy Day 2020: How is this condition diagnosed and treated

Health News in Hindi

Yogi Adityanath: उत्‍तर प्रदेश के मुख्‍यमंत्री योगी आदित्‍यनाथ भी कोरोना पॉजिटिव, खुद को किया आइसोलेट

Chaitra Navratri 2021: नवरात्रि के पहले व्रत में ही हो गई कमजोरी? इन 4 हेल्‍दी चीजों से पाएं दोगुनी ताकत

कोविड-19 के इन लक्षणों को ना करें नज़रअंदाज, देते हैं ये संक्रमण के गम्भीर होने के संकेत, फौरन जाना पड़ सकता है अस्पताल

नाक के आस-पास जिद्दी झाइयों ने किया परेशान ? 5 देसी तरीके हफ्ते भर में देंगे पॉजिटिव रिजल्ट, ऐसे करें इस्तेमाल

यूपी के पूर्व सीएम अखिलेश यादव को भी हुआ कोरोना, घर ही किया खुद को आइसोलेट

Read All

Recent Posts

  • Children who snore frequently may develop behavioural problems: The reason explained
  • Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Tests Positive For Coronavirus
  • Sputnik V: How Does This COVID-19 Vaccine Works And Who All Can Take The Jab
  • Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav Tests COVID-19 Positive; Lucknow Among Worst Hit In Uttar Pradesh
  • What Led to The Drastic Decline in UK’s COVID-19 Cases? PM Boris Johnson Says Lockdown

About The health Site

TheHealthSite.com is India's largest health site with more than 40 lakh unique visitors per month. We focus on fitness, beauty, health, pregnancy and more.

Most popular health and wellness website in India in 2012 at the Website of the year awards.

health@corp.india.com
+91 – 22 – 6697 1234
Landline Phone number 91 – 22 – 2490 0302.

ZEE ENTERTAINMENT ENTERPRISES LTD, 18th floor, A-Wing, Marathon Futurex, N. M. Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400013.

Useful Links

  • Weight Loss
  • Keto Diet Tips
  • Skin Care Tips
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Ashwagandha
  • Cancer
  • Pneumonia
  • Diarrhoea
  • Dengue
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Chickenpox
  • Chikungunya
  • Depression
  • Hepatitis
  • Diabetes
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Swine Flu
  • Baby Names
  • Cough and cold
  • Heart Attack
  • Breast Cancer
  • Ebola Virus
  • Dengue
  • Malaria
  • International Yoga Day
  • Hypotension
  • Heart Failure
  • Asthma
  • Brain Tumour
  • Celebrity Fitness
  • Goitre
  • HIV/AIDS

We respect your privacy

  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Author Profiles

Copyright © 2021 Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved.