Leprosy

:This article is about the infectious disease also known as Hansen's disease. For the malady found in the Hebrew Bible, see the article Tzaraas. For the album Leprosy by Death see the article Leprosy (album).

Related Topics:
Tzaraas - Leprosy (album)

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Leprosy, sometimes known as Hansen's disease, is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an aerobic, acid fast, rod-shaped mycobacterium. The modern term for the disease is named after the discoverer of the bacterium, Gerhard Armauer Hansen.

Related Topics:
Infectious disease - Mycobacterium leprae - Aerobic - Acid fast - Mycobacterium - Gerhard Armauer Hansen

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Sufferers of Hansen's disease have historically been known as lepers, however this term is falling into disuse as a result of the diminishing number of leprosy patients and the pejorative connotations of the term. The terms "leprosy" and "lepers" can also lead to public misunderstanding because the Bible uses these terms in reference to a wide range of incurable skin conditions other than Hansen's disease.

Related Topics:
Pejorative - Bible

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Historically, leprosy was an incurable and disfiguring disease. Lepers were shunned and sequestered in leper colonies. Today, leprosy is easily curable by multidrug antibiotic therapy. The main challenges in the eradication of Hansen's disease is in reaching populations that have not yet received multidrug therapy services, improving detection of the disease, and providing patients with high-quality services and affordable drugs.

Related Topics:
Leper colonies - Antibiotic

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Other than humans, the only animals known to be susceptible to leprosy are the armadillo and mice (on their footpads).

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