Question

What is Hansen’s disease (its etiological agent, mode of transmission, clinical manifestations and prevention)?

Answer 1

Leprosy or Hensen's disease is a bacterial infection of skin and nerves caused by Mycobacterium leprae.

The disease is probably transmitted from nasal lining of the person with the infection to the skin and respiratory tract of another person.

Close and frequent contact results in this infection.

Symptoms involve symmetrical lumps on both the sides of the body, crusting and difficulty in breathing, bleeding and inflammation of the eyes.

There are skin lesions with no feeling of senaationn.

Also, the nerves of arms, legs and face gets thickened symmetrically with no sensation.

Multi drug therapy is used for the treatment of leprosy.

Prevention: it can be done by excluding the infected persons from childcare, schools and work area till the physician advice.

It should be controlled by rapid elimination of this infection using multidrug therapy.