How do you get leprosy?
Question by Austin811: How do you get leprosy?
i know what it is but do people in the US have it? could they? i’m not worried about getting it, just curious.
Best answer:
Answer by Linda R
The first link will give you leprosy information from teh Worled Health Organization (WHO) According to WHO, there is no data available regarding leprosy in the USA. See the map at the second link. According to Medline “Leprosy is caused by the organism Mycobacterium leprae. It is not very contagious (difficult to transmit) and has a long incubation period (time before symptoms appear), which makes it difficult to determine where or when the disease was contracted. Children are more susceptible than adults to contracting the disease.” See the third link.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Clinical Features
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 or multibacillary Hansen’s disease. 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.
Etiologic Agent
A bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae, that multiplies very slowly and mainly affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. The organism has never been grown in bacteriologic media or cell culture, but has been grown in mouse foot pads.
Incidence
In 2002, the number of new cases detected worldwide was 763,917. In 2002, 96 cases occurring in the United States were reported to CDC. In 2002, WHO listed Brazil, Madagascar, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Nepal as having 90% of cases.
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Sequelae
Worldwide, 1-2 million persons are permanently disabled as a result of Hansen’s disease. However, persons receiving antibiotic treatment or having completed treatment are considered free of active infection.
Transmission
Although the mode of transmission of Hansen’s disease remains uncertain, most investigators think that M. leprae is usually spread from person to person in respiratory droplets.
Risk Groups
Close contacts with patients with untreated, active, predominantly multibacillary disease, and persons living in countries with highly endemic disease.
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Surveillance
Hansen’s disease is nationally notifiable in the United States.
Trends
Prevalence has remained relatively stable in the United States. Decreasing numbers of cases worldwide with pockets of high prevalence in certain countries.
Challenges
Multi-drug therapy has not been implemented in many endemic areas. Nerve damage must be recognized and managed. Relapse rate after completion of short course multi-drug therapy may rise.
Opportunities
Opportunities exist for participation in Hansen’s disease elimination activities in endemic-disease countries, and for Mycobacterium research in the Laboratory Research Branch of the National Hansen’s Disease Program.” See fourth link.
Personally, I knew it still existed in Africa because I have friends there. The rest of the information was very interesting. Hope you find it interesting too.
Answer by Kåliû3W
It’s caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium Leprae, and is rare…For more information see this link:
http://diseases.emedtv.com/leprosy/what-causes-leprosy.html
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