Leprosy

Subject: Community Health Nursing II

Overview

Mycobacterium leprae, which causes leprosy, is an infectious disease that causes hypopigmented patches, partial or complete loss of sensation, enlarged nerve tissue, and the presence of acid-fast bacilli in skin smears. A bacillus called Mycobacterium leprae is the cause of the chronic disease leprosy. It is not particularly contagious. In close and repeated contact with untreated patients, it can be spread by droplets from the mouth and nose. Nerve involvement that is broad but early on is modest, resulting in light anesthesia The symptoms include a loss of sweating caused by the destruction of an autonomic pathway. Because early treatment can prevent disability, the disease is treatable.

Another name for leprosy is "Hansen's illness." Skin lesions or nerve involvement characterize leprosy, a chronic granulomatous illness.

Mycobacterium leprae, which causes leprosy, is an infectious disease that causes hypopigmented patches, partial or complete loss of sensation, thickened nerve tissue, and the presence of acid-fast bacilli in skin smears.

Causes

  • A bacillus called Mycobacterium leprae is the cause of the chronic disease leprosy.
  • The M.leprae virus multiplies very slowly, and the illness takes approximately five years to develop. The onset of symptoms may take up to 20 years.
  • Although leprosy is not particularly contagious, it can be spread through close contact with untreated cases and through droplets from the mouth and nose.

Symptoms 

  • Skin seems oily and thickened.
  • The body makes an effort to pinpoint the disease.
  • a painless nodule appears.
  • On occasion, there may be an abundance of small, flat, whitish macules.
  • Nerve involvement that is broad but early on is modest, resulting in light anesthesia
  • Lack of sweating as a result of an autonomic route being destroyed.

Treatment

  • Leprosy is a treatable disease, and prompt treatment can prevent disability.
  • Leprosy is easily diagnosed based only on clinical indications with no training.
  • In 1981, a WHO study group advised multidrug treatment. Dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine make up the Mukti medication regimen.
  • MDT is simple to use, safe, and easy to administer in the field.

Prevention

  • The BCG vaccine is known to offer some protection against tuberculoid forms.
  • Children exposed to infected lepromatous or borderline lepromatous cases should maintain appropriate nutrition and cleanliness.
  • Early detection of a case.
  • Multi-drug treatment.

REFERENCE

Adhikari R.K and Krantz M.E, 2001, Child Nutrition and Health, 3rd edition, HLMC

Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Health Nursing II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2012 (reprint).

Dr. Suwal S.N. & Tuitui R. (2063) A Textbook of Community Health Nursing, 1st edition, Vidyarthi Prakashan (P). Ltd. Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu

Dr. Sharma PR, 2009, A Hand Book of Pediatric Problems, 3rd edition, Makalu Publication

Kafle k.k and Pinniger R.G, 2055, Diagnostic and Treatment Manual for Primary Health Care, 1st English edition, HLMC

MedicineNet. 1996. 2017 http://www.medicinenet.com/leprosy/article.htm

Tuitui, Roshani. Community Health Nursing. Kathmandu: Vidyarthi Prakashan (P.) LTD., 2067.

Web MD. 2005. 2017 http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/leprosy-symptoms-treatments-history#1
Things to remember
  • Skin lesions or nerve involvement characterize leprosy, a chronic granulomatous illness. also referred to as "Hansen's illness."
  • Clinical signs of this infectious condition, which is brought on by the mycobacterium leprae, include hypopigmented patches, a partial or complete loss of sensation, enlarged nerve tissue, and the presence of acid-fast bacilli in skin smears.
  • It is a bacillus called Mycobacterium leprae that causes the persistent illness.
  • It is not particularly contagious.
  • In close and repeated contact with untreated patients, it can be spread by droplets from the mouth and nose.
Questions and Answers

Hansen's disease is another name for leprosy. Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease that causes skin lesions or nerve involvement.

Mycobacterium leprae infections cause leprosy, which is clinically characterized by hypopigmented patches, partial or total loss of sensation, thickened nerves, and the presence of acid-fast bacilli in skin smears.

Causes

  • Mycobacterium leprae, a bacillus, causes leprosy, a chronic disease.
  • M.leprae multiplies slowly, and the disease takes about five years to develop. Symptoms may not appear for up to 20 years. Leprosy is not a particularly contagious disease. It is spread through droplets from the nose and mouth when in close and frequent contact with untreated cases.

Symptoms

  • The skin appears to be thickened and greasy.
  • The body makes an attempt to locate the disease.
  • Nodules that are painless appear.
  • Occasionally, a large number of small pale flat macules can be found.
  • Nerve involvement is generalized in the early stages, so anesthesia is minimal.
  • Sweating cessation as a result of the destruction of an autonomic pathway

Leprosy is a curable disease and treatment provided in the early stages avert disability.

  •  With minimal training, leprosy can be easily diagnosed on clinical signs alone.
  • A WHO study group recommended multidrug therapy in 1981. Mukti drug therapy consists of dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine.
  • MDT is safe , effective and easily administered under field conditions.

 

Prevention

  •  BCG vaccine is saif to give a degree of protection to tuberculoid types.
  •  Maintenance of good nutrition of hygiene in children exposed to infected lepromatous or borderline lepromatous cases contributes to prevention.
  •  Early case detection
  • Multidrug therapy.

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