tell me about lepracy?

Question

it is transferable from parents to doughter

Answer 1

Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium leprae bacterium; it may disfigure the body or skin. The modern term for the disease is named after Gerhard Armauer Hansen, the discoverer of the bacterium.
Contents
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* 1 Term "Leprosy"
* 2 Incidence
* 3 Transmission
* 4 Risk groups
* 5 Clinical features
* 6 Treatment
* 7 Asylums
* 8 Famous people with leprosy
* 9 In literature and film
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 Further reading
* 13 External links

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Term "Leprosy"

Sufferers of Hansen's disease have historically been known as lepers; however, this term is falling into disuse as a result of the diminishing number of leprosy patients and the pejorative connotations of the term. In fact, the term that is now most widely accepted among people and agencies working in the field of leprosy is "people affected by leprosy". The terms "leprosy" and "lepers" can also lead to public misunderstanding because the Bible uses these terms in reference to a wide range of skin conditions other than Hansen's disease. The term itself first appeared in the English language in the 1300s coming from Greek and Hebrew. [1]
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Incidence

Worldwide, one to two million people are permanently disabled because of Hansen's disease. However, persons receiving antibiotic treatment or having completed treatment are considered free of active infection. India has the greatest number of leprosy cases, with Brazil second and Myanmar third.

According to recent figures from the World Health Organization (WHO), new cases detected worldwide have decreased by approximately 107,000 cases (or 21%) from 2003 to 2004. This decreasing trend has been consistent for the past three years. In addition, the global registered prevalence of leprosy was 286,063 cases; 407,791 new cases were detected during 2004.

In 1999, the world incidence of Hansen's disease was estimated to be 640,000; in 2000, 738,284 cases were identified. In 1999, 108 cases occurred in the United States. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed 91 countries in which Hansen's disease is endemic. India, Myanmar and Nepal contained 70% of cases. In 2002, 763,917 new cases were detected worldwide, and in that year the WHO listed Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania and Nepal as having 90% of Hansen's disease cases.

Hansen's disease is one of the infectious diseases tracked passively by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its prevalence in the United States has remained low and relatively stable. There are decreasing numbers of cases worldwide, though pockets of high prevalence continue in certain areas such as Brazil, South Asia (India, Nepal), some parts of Africa (Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique) and the western Pacific.

Aside from humans, other creatures that are known to be susceptible to leprosy are the armadillo, mangabey monkeys, rabbits, chimpanzees and mice (on their footpads).
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Transmission

The mode of transmission of Hansen's disease remains uncertain. Most investigators believe that the bacterium is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. What is known is that the transmission rate is very low. In addition, approximately 95% of people who are exposed to it do not develop leprosy due to natural immunity.[2]

Although it is not congenital, in the case of the LL type of leprosy, children born to affected mothers risk contracting the disease.
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Risk groups

At highest risk are those having close contacts with patients with untreated, active, predominantly multibacillary disease, and persons living in countries with highly endemic disease are at risk of contracting the disease. Recent research suggests that there is genetic variation in susceptibility. The region of DNA responsible for this variability is also involved in Parkinson's disease, giving rise to current speculation that the two disorders may be linked in some way at the biochemical level. In addition, men are two times more likely to contract leprosy than women.
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Clinical features

The disease affects the skin, nerves and mucous membranes. This chronic infectious disease usually affects the skin and peripheral nerves but has a wide range of possible clinical manifestations. Patients are classified as having paucibacillary (tuberculoid leprosy) or multibacillary Hansen's disease (lepromatous leprosy). Paucibacillary Hansen's disease is milder and characterized by one or more hypopigmented skin macules. Multibacillary Hansen's disease is associated with symmetric skin lesions, nodules, plaques, thickened dermis, and frequent involvement of the nasal mucosa resulting in nasal congestion and epistaxis (nose bleeds). Contrary to popular belief, Hansen's bacillus does not cause rotting of the flesh; however, due to the body's extensive attempts to rid itself of the bacterium, defenses such as inflammation, cytokines, activated macrophages and other mechanisms cause tissue destruction and regeneration leading to excessive growth and eventually mutilation.
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Treatment

Historically, leprosy was an incurable and disfiguring disease.

A very great number of leprosaria, or leper hospitals, sprang up in the middle ages, particularly in England, and there were 250 in England around 1230 A.D. The first recorded leprosarium was in Harbledown. These institutions were run along monastic lines, and while lepers were encouraged to live in these monastic-type establishments, this was for the health of their own souls as well as quarantine. Indeed, in Catholic tradition, those suffering from leprosy were considered to be going through Purgatory on Earth, and for this reason their suffering was considered more holy than the ordinary person's. Saint Radegund was noted for washing the feet of lepers, and Orderic Vitalis writes of a monk, Ralf, who was so overcome by the plight of the leper that he prayed to catch leprosy himself (which he eventually did). The leper would carry a clapper and bell to warn of his approach, and this was as much to attract attention for charity as to warn people that a diseased person was near. Most importantly, Jesus had not only walked with lepers, but touched and conversed with them, and so in medieval religious society, it was a noble thing to be able to converse and build relationships with the leper.

Dapsone was used to treat leprosy from 1946, but it was necessary to take dapsone for months if not years, making compliance difficult. Search for more effective medicines led to the discovery of clofazimine and rifampin in the sixties at Novartis. Of the two, rifampin proved to be particularly effective. The first study using rifampin to treat leprosy was published in 1970.[3] A major breakthrough occurred in leprosy treatment in 1982, with the introduction of Multi-Drug-Therapy (MDT) based on studies published by Shantaram Yawalkar and colleagues.[4] The treatment Yawalkar formulated consisted of dapsone and rifampin combination.

For most people, a six month course of tablets for the milder form of leprosy and two years for the more severe form will cure the disease. However, for those who suffer a disabling reaction caused by the build-up of dead bacilli in the body, additional steroid treatment is usually required.

The main challenges in the eradication of Hansen's disease are in reaching populations that have not yet received multidrug therapy services, improving detection of the disease, providing patients with high-quality services and affordable drugs, and fighting social taboos about the disease where patients are considered to be "unclean" or "cursed by God" as outcasts. The last issue is important to address, because in such societies, patients may be forced to hide their condition (and thus avoid seeking treatment) in order to avoid discrimination, since the lack of awareness about Hansen's disease leads people to falsely believe that the disease is highly contagious and incurable. Since 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) has provided all endemic countries with free MDT, supplied through Ministries of Health. In December 2005, an agreement was signed between the WHO and the pharmaceutical company Novartis to extend this free provision until at least the end of 2010.
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Asylums

There are still a few leper colonies around the world, in countries such as India and the Philippines.

Western humanitarian and church organizations regularly send relief supplies, including handmade "leper bandages"; bandages knitted or crocheted out of cotton, for greater breathability and durability than traditional gauze. The bandages can also be washed, sterilized and reused, making them more cost-effective as well. Though leper bandages can be machine-made, the colony inhabitants tend to appreciate the handmade variety.

In 2001, government-run leper colonies in Japan came under judicial scrutiny, leading to the determination that the Japanese government had mistreated the patients, and the District Court ordered Japan to pay compensation to former patients [1]. In 2002, a formal inquiry into these colonies was set up, and in March of 2005 the policy was strongly denounced. "Japan's policy of absolute quarantine... did not have any scientific grounds." [2] The inquiry denounced not only the government and the doctors which are involved with the policy but also the court which repeatedly ruled in the favour of the government when the policy was challenged, as well as the media, which failed to report the plight of the victims. There are about 7000 records of forced abortion and sterilisation. In some instances, it was reported that babies were suffocated after birth. [3]

Answer 2

Yes. Leprosy is contagious and also the children will have it if the parents are not properly treated and cured. In 2001, in government-run leper colonies in Japan, the Japanese government had treated the patients, There are about 7000 records of forced abortion and sterilisation. In some instances, it was reported that babies were suffocated after birth to avoid spreading of leprosy, being a hereditary disease.

About Leprosy - Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is an infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium leprae bacterium; it may disfigure the body or skin. The modern term for the disease is named after Gerhard Armauer Hansen, the discoverer of the bacterium.

Sufferers of Hansen's disease have historically been known as lepers; however, this term is falling into disuse as a result of the diminishing number of leprosy patients and the pejorative connotations of the term. In fact, the term that is now most widely accepted among people and agencies working in the field of leprosy is "people affected by leprosy". The terms "leprosy" and "lepers" can also lead to public misunderstanding because the Bible uses these terms in reference to a wide range of skin conditions other than Hansen's disease. The term itself first appeared in the English language in the 1300s coming from Greek and Hebrew.

The mode of transmission of Hansen's disease remains uncertain. Most investigators believe that the bacterium is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. What is known is that the transmission rate is very low. In addition, approximately 95% of people who are exposed to it do not develop leprosy due to natural immunity.
Although it is not congenital, in the case of the LL type of leprosy, children born to affected mothers risk contracting the disease.

Answer 3

Modern medicine knows that leprosy is spread when an untreated infected person coughs or sneezes (but not by sexual contact or pregnancy). However, leprosy is not very contagious; approximately 95% of people have natural immunity to the disease. People with leprosy who are treated with medication do not need to be isolated from society. (Historically, people with leprosy were sent to "lepers' colonies" on remote islands or in special hospitals.)
Hands and feet - Leprosy bacteria attack the nerves in the hands and feet and cause them to become numb. A person may get cuts or burns on the numb parts and not know it, leading to infections which cause permanent damage. Fingers and toes may be lost to infection. Serious infections in the feet may require amputation. Paralysis may cause the fingers and toes to curl up permanently.
Eyes - Leprosy bacteria attack the nerves around the eyes causing the loss of blinking reflex (which protects the eye from injury and moistens the surface). The eyes become dry and infected, and blindness may result. Because of numbness of the eye, the person cannot feel dirt or scratches in the eye.
Face - Damage to the internal lining of the nose causes scarring and eventual collapse of the nose.

Answer 4

1.Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease which attacks the skin, peripheral nerves and mucous membranes (eyes, respiratory tract).
2 Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease because the bacillus which causes it was discovered by G.A. Hansen in 1873. It is most common in warm, wet areas in the tropics and subtropics.
it is communicable disease so it wil sprea by blood,pus.

Answer 5

Leprosy is most often spread by dust containing dried saliva, from humans or armadillos. It is a disfiguring, but not fatal disease.

Answer 6

From the World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/lep/en/

Answer 7

kiss em

Answer 8

Do you mean leprosy?

Answer 9

pl .correct ur spelling

Answer 10

No.