Leprosy in India
Leprosy in India
Leprosy (pronounced: lep-ruh-see), also known as Hansen's disease (pronounced: han-senz dih-zeez), is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae (pronounced: my-koh-bak-teer-ee-uhm lep-ray). The disease primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves, leading to physical deformities and disability if left untreated.
Etymology
The term "leprosy" comes from the Greek word lepros, meaning "scaly". The disease was named "Hansen's disease" after the Norwegian physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, who discovered the causative bacterium in 1873.
Epidemiology in India
India has the highest number of leprosy cases in the world, accounting for more than half of the global leprosy burden. The disease is prevalent in all states and union territories, with the highest number of cases reported in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis of leprosy is primarily based on clinical signs and symptoms, such as skin lesions and nerve damage. The mainstay of treatment is multidrug therapy (MDT), which includes a combination of dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine.
Related Terms
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Leprosy in India
- Wikipedia's article - Leprosy in India
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