World Leprosy Day

January 31, 2016

Many of us might have lost the thought of the word ‘Leprosy’, thinking the

disease eradicated long back. Unfortunately, suffering still remains. For over

more than 60 years, last Sunday of January is observed as World Leprosy

day across the world to increase public awareness of the disease.

French writer & humanitarian, Raoul Follereau, initiated this great thought

with a vision to spread global awareness about the disease & ways to

prevent & cure it.

French writer & humanitarian, Raoul

Follereau, initiated this great thought with a

vision to spread global awareness about the

disease & ways to prevent & cure it.

It may also interest you to know that

this day coincides with the assassination

day of Indian freedom fighter, Mahatma

Gandhi. He once said, “Eliminating

leprosy is the only work I have not been

able to complete in my lifetime.”

Leprosy is a disease caused by a bacillus,

M. Leprae (Mycobacterium leprae, a

relative of tuberculosis germ). It is chronic, affecting the skin & nerves –

especially those going to the legs, arms & face.

Leprosy is curable still we have millions suffering from this diseases. If

detected early, disabilities can be prevented. It is curable with multi-drug

therapy (MDT) which was developed in the early 1980s. MDT consists of 3

drugs: rifampicin, clofazimine & dapsone. Treatment takes from 6 months

to 2 years depending on the severity of the case.

Some interesting facts about leprosy

1. Leprosy is also known as Hansen’s disease, named after a physician

Gerhard Armauer Hansen. He was the first to view the bacillus under

a microscope in 1873.

2. Leprosy was known in the ancient civilization of China, Egypt & India.

The first written mention is dated 600 BC.

3. Leprosy was actually common in Europe until it died out leaving

behind no significant reason of extinction.

4. India has the largest prevalence of leprosy in the world, followed by

Brazil, Nigeria, Myanmar & Indonesia.

5. There are approximately 200,000 – 300,000 new cases world-wide,

annually.

6. Approximately 150 people are diagnosed with leprosy in the United

States.

7. Leprosy is one of the world’s largest causes of preventable blindness.

8. The nerve damage causes loss of sensation & also weakness & paralysis

of muscles.

9. Leprosy doesn’t damage the deeper organs & tissues of the body to

any extent.

10. It is a disease of the skin & superficial nerves.

11. The first sign of leprosy are often pale patches which appear on

the skin and/or loss of sensation on the hands & feet.

12. Leprosy is not hereditary or cannot be transmitted by physical

touch.

13. It is not infectious or contagious. It is transmitted via droplets

from the nose & mouth, during close & frequent contact with

affected individuals.

14. Early diagnosis can prevent disabilities & help in eliminating the

disease.

15. Everyday 52 children around the world are diagnosed with

leprosy. Maximum would attain permanent disability due to lack of

sufficient knowledge & medical exposure.

16. Men are twice as likely to contract leprosy as women.

17. It is curable with multi-drug therapy which was developed in

the early 1980s.

18. Within one day of starting the therapy, there is no risk of

spreading the disease to anyone else.

19. World Health Assembly, a governing body of the World Health

Organization (WHO), was designed to eliminate Leprosy. Disease

elimination was defined as a reduction of prevalence to less than 1

case per 10,000 persons.

20. 122 countries were targeted out of which 119 have achieved

this goal & are free from this disease.