Know about leprosy disease
After the first dose of treatment, a person is considered non-infectious.
The Mpumalanga Department of Health has embarked on a drive to educate communities about Hansen’s disease (leprosy).
Leprosy is a chronic bacterial disease that mainly affects the skin and nerves. It is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets and requires close contact between individuals for it to spread.
The most common signs of leprosy include hypo-pigmentation, which is red skin lesions. Other symptoms include peripheral nerve swelling or thickening, thickened patches of skin and nasal excretions.
People who are often at risk of developing the disease are those coming into close contact with infected individuals who are not taking antibiotics to treat their infection.
An infected person is able to spread leprosy through nasal secretions until they begin a multi-drug antibiotic therapy.
After the first dose of treatment, a person is considered non-infectious.
Regarding treatment for the disease, a multi-drug therapy can be effective and infected individuals are considered non-infectious after a few doses of antibiotics, depending on the form of leprosy.
Their treatment may last for as long as three to four years, but it typically ranges from six to 12 months.
To prevent the disease, anyone in close contact with an individual with the disease who is not receiving antibiotic treatment must take precautions to avoid contact with nasal secretions.
For more information on the disease, communities must visit their nearest clinics.
