When people hear “leprosy,” many immediately think about Biblical curses of the Old Testament. However, leprosy is more relevant in today than ever. Mind you, it’s also more controlled, and there are more leprosy cures than the misfortunes of so many years ago.
…and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. pic.twitter.com/M3JSXY8ZDz
— Tommi Kulju (@KuljuTommi) September 20, 2016
An Incredibly Slow Process
Leprosy isn’t a fast-acting disease, according to eMedicine Health . It can take weeks, months, or even years to show visible symptoms .
Leprosy Confirmed in California https://t.co/Q9unizsLwe
— LifeZette (@LifeZette) September 25, 2016
Leprosy is caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). The source notes that everyone isn’t susceptible to the bacterium as a start to leprosy. It notes the following statement.
“Not all individuals infected with M. leprae will go on to develop leprosy, because only 5 to 10 percent of the population is thought to be susceptible to the infection for immunological reasons.”
So, basically, it all depends on the host. As you now may be aware, there’s leprosy in California . According to ABC News , a kid was officially diagnosed with the contagious disease just days ago.
An extremely rare case of leprosy in the US was found in a California elementary school student https://t.co/ufdH9zep7H | AP Photo pic.twitter.com/KUIYb4MLtp
— STAT (@statnews) September 25, 2016
So, don’t think it’s impossible for you.
Be watchful. Early leprosy symptoms are less noticeable than the “cursed” description the Bible discusses, and you could mistake them for something more common.
Leprosy’s Symptoms Are Plenty
Most people recognize leprosy by the signs of multiple flat or raised skin lesions.
“They’re often less pigmented than the surrounding skin,” says the source.
Yet, they also may appear reddish or copper colored.
Interestingly enough, regarding leprosy, these lensions can often occur on “cooler” areas of the body: like the face and buttocks. This is discussed more in a latter portion of the article.
Southern California child tests positive for leprosy pic.twitter.com/5Yho4rqpRH
— FOX & friends (@foxandfriends) September 23, 2016
Other leprosy symptoms include but are not limited to:
- Skin ulcers
- Muscle weakness
- Deformities
- Hoarseness
- Sexual dysfunction or sterility
- Eye involvement including eye pain, eye redness, inability to close the eyelids, corneal ulcers, and blindness
- Loss of eyebrows and eyelashes
- Destruction of the nasal cartilage
Leprosy is definitely a burden for its host. There’s no question about it.
Leprosy: It’s Partly About Your Feelings
While it’d be easy to discuss this disease as an emotional one, that’s simply not the case.
In essence, leprosy affects your “touch” sensors. Often times, nerve damage is a persistent issue. It’s important to pay attention to chronic nerve problems.
UPDATE: Health officials say one Jurupa Valley student tested positive for #leprosy . The second one did not.
— Rob McMillan (@abc7robmcmillan) September 22, 2016
Particularly, regarding impending leprosy, regions of numbness occur. However, those regions also come with skin lesions.
“Sensory loss is a typical feature of leprosy,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). “The skin lesion may show loss of sensation to pin pick and/or light touch.”
Nerve Inflammation And Leprosy
The source also notes that thickened nerves are also evidence of the leprosy disease.
“A thickened nerve is often accompanied by other signs as a result of damage to the nerve. These may be loss of sensation in the skin and weakness of muscles supplied by the affected nerve.”
While there may be questions regarding the accuracy of a leprosy diagnosis, the source also mentions that thickened nerves, alone, aren’t a basis for this particular disease.
#Leprosy Found in California Child: How Doctors Diagnosed It https://t.co/jlmWDf4qVS pic.twitter.com/yQwSEWh5ZD
— Live Science (@LiveScience) September 24, 2016
“How do I stop it?”
First, a skin test is in order. The source mentions that a skin smear or biopsy is a more accurate, definitive method for leprosy diagnosis.
You can also use blood tests, nerve biopsies, and nasal smears. However, the source notes that these are less common ways to test for leprosy.
Once you’ve been diagnosed and prescribed proper leprosy treatment, it’s important to stick to the scheduled medication as instructed.
The source says that leprosy is curable. Yet, as medical circumstances are concerned, it’s only by its Multi-Drug Treatment (MDT).
This is a particularly prescribed combination of medicines that has proven to cure leprosy cases.
What About Leprosy Vaccinations?
While vaccination is a plausible method of immunity, the source says there’s no complete end-all vaccination for leprosy.
However, those like Bacillus Calmette and Guérin (BCG) do a great job at providing “certain levels of protection” against the disease.
Nevertheless, all in all, what are your thoughts regarding leprosy? Feel free to share them in the comments below.
[Featured Image via Omar Havana/Getty Images]
