Why in the News
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have officially verified Chile as the first country in the Americas and the second globally to eliminate leprosy as a public health problem.
Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease)
- A chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.
- Primarily affects:
- Skin
- Peripheral nerves
- Upper respiratory tract mucosa
- Eyes
- If untreated, it can cause permanent nerve damage and disability.
Transmission
- Spread through respiratory droplets from the nose and mouth of untreated patients.
- Requires close and prolonged contact.
- Not highly contagious.
Incubation Period
- Very long incubation period.
- Average: ~5 years, but symptoms may appear up to 20 years later.
Symptoms
- Pale or reddish skin patches with loss of sensation
- Numbness and nerve damage
- Muscle weakness in hands and feet
- Painless ulcers on soles of feet
- Eye damage in severe cases
Treatment
- Multi-Drug Therapy (MDT) provided free worldwide by WHO.
- Combination of medicines:
- Rifampicin
- Dapsone
- Clofazimine
- 100% curable if treated early.
- Early treatment prevents disability.
| [2014] Consider the following diseases: Diphtheria Chickenpox Smallpox Which of the above diseases has/have been eradicated in India? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 only (d) None of the above |
