​​​​​​​​What is leprosy and how do you catch it?

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Leprosy (Mycobacterium leprae) is caused by bacteria which affect the peripheral nervous system and skin leading to disability and disfigurement.  Leprosy is not very infectious and is most likely transmitted via droplets, from the nose and mouth, during close and frequent contacts with untreated cases. ​

When the leprosy bacteria invade the body it causes one of two types of the disease either Paucibacillary (PB) leprosy or Multibacillary (MB) which is more severe.  A majority of cases are of PB leprosy where the body's immune cells attempt to seal off the infection from the rest of the body.  PB leprosy can cause the hair follicles, sweat glands, and nerves to be destroyed causing skin to become dry, discoloured and lose its sensitivity and the nerves on the face, arms, or legs to become enlarged.  MB leprosy is more contagious and severe as the body's immune system is too weak to respond to the invading organism which multiplies freely on the skin resulting in large nodules or lesions across the body and face which can lead to severe disfigurement.​

As the disease progresses, patients lose sensation and strength in their fingers, toes and limbs leaving them susceptible to repeated burns and cuts which get infected resulting in sever ulcers.   Deformities also occur on the face, hands or feet.    When diagnosed and treated early leprosy can be fully treated and cured with Multi Drug Therapy and loss of sensation and deformities can be prevented but in the advanced cases of leprosy deformities and sensation loss cannot be reversed.​

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Is leprosy curable?

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Leprosy is completely curable with Multi Drug Therapy.  However, loss of sensation in limbs as a result of leprosy is irreversible and can lead to ulcers, deformities and disabilities.  In addition, the stigma attached to leprosy means that even after a person is cured they are often subject to continued discrimination.

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How do you treat leprosy?

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Multi Drug Therapy​

Leprosy is treated through Multi Drug Therapy (MDT) a combination of three powerful antibacterial drugs, namely Dapsone, Rifampicin, and Clofazimine (Lamprene), which is taken for between six months and one year depending on the type of leprosy.   MDT is provided through the state health system so when a patient approaches TLM we assist them to access MDT through their Primary Health Centre and, if required, initially provide MTD directly.