Rebecca Hughes by Hughes, Rebecca (rlhughes02)

Hansen's Disease, also known as Leprosy, Causes and how its spread

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:30:41 UTC

Hansen's Disease is caused by two slow-growing bacteria: Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis.

It is likely spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs, and the healthy person inhales the droplets that have the bacteria contained inside them.

Who is at Risk

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:34:04 UTC

The people who are at risk for infection are those who have prolonged exposure to the infected, people with a weakened immune system caused by conditions like HIV or genetics. Also, overcrowded living situations and malnutrition can contribute to infection.

Symptoms of Hansen's Disease on Skin

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:36:49 UTC

Symptoms of Hansen's Disease on the skin are discoloration or white patches, nodules on the skin, the bottoms of the feet develop painless ulcers, the loss of eyelashes and eyebrows, and swelling or lumps on the earlobes or the face.

Symptoms of Hansen's Disease on the Nerves and Nasal Cavity

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:40:14 UTC

The symptoms of Hansen's Disease on the nerves are muscle weakness or paralysis, the hands and feet are most often affected, eye problems that could lead to blindness, and enlarged nerves in the knees, elbows, and side of the neck.

Symptoms of Hansen's Disease on the nasal cavity are nosebleeds and stuffy nose.

What Happens If Left Untreated

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:47:47 UTC

If Hansen's Disease is left untreated, it could potentially cause crippling affects to the hands and feet, numbness in the affected areas, loss of eyebrows, blindness, and enlarged nerves in the elbows, disfigurement of the nose, reabsorption causing shrinking fingers and toes, chronic non-healing ulcers on the bottoms of the feet, a burning feeling in the skin, painful or tender nerves or pain and redness of the area afflicted.

Prevention

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:50:00 UTC

Prevention of Hansen's Disease is easy. Most people can't contract it because their immune systems fight it off. However, if a person does have exposure, just have yourself tested yearly.

Treatment of Hansen's Disease

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:52:29 UTC

Hansen's Disease is treated with a combination of three antibiotics, also known as "multidrug therapy". These antibiotics are called Dapsone, Rifamprin, and Clofazimine. The infected will have to ingest the antibiotics for a period of six months to a year as prescribed by their doctor.

Example of Hansen's Disease 8

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:53:36 UTC

Examples of Hansen's Disease on the face, hands, arms, and toes.

Example 9 of Hansen's Disease

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:54:16 UTC

Example of Hansen's Disease on the torso and arms.

Example 10 of Hansen's Disease

rlhughes02 — 2025-04-26 22:56:16 UTC

Hansen's Disease on the back and upper arms .