Definition paragraph:define Leprosy - Essay Example

Definition of Leprosy Leprosy, also known by the of Hensen’s disease, is a granulomatous disease that is mildly contagious and is mostly found in the subtropical and tropical regions. Leprosy is a contagious disease that has an effect on the nerves, mucous membranes, and skin in general. The effects of Leprosy include but are not limited to the occurrence of lumps on the skin, discoloration of the skin, and deformities and disfigurement in the extreme circumstances. The disease is characterized by the production of ulcers in the bones, skin, and viscera.

The effects produced by the occurrence of these symptoms include but are not limited to paralysis, loss of sensation, and gangrene. Leprosy is confined mainly to Asia and tropical Africa. Bacillus Mycobacterium causes Leprosy. Since the disease has a slow rate of progression and the infection caused by it is mild, its effects on a victim varies from one patient to another depending upon the age and the ability of the patient’s body to resist the effects of this disease. Leprosy is marked by the damaging of tissues and is characterized by inflammation of the skin modules in people that have poor resistance, and by local areas of dry and firm patches in people that have better resistance against the disease.

The incubation period of Leprosy is unusually long and normally ranges from three to six years (Gillen 143). Such a long time period makes it difficult to identify the disease. Because of the high sensitivity of the bacteria that causes this disease to heat, the bacillus tends to live in the relatively cooler body regions. The symptoms commence in the skin as well as the peripheral nervous system, from where they spread to different cooler body parts including the earlobes, feet, hands, and face.

Although effects on eyes and respiratory tract are rate, yet they do occur in the severe cases. Curled fingers to form a claw hand and twisted limbs are also associated with Leprosy. The effects of Leprosy on the facial features include but are not limited to collapse of the nose and thickening of the outside of the ear. An obvious effect of Leprosy is embarrassment and social exclusion. People tend to stay distant from the patients of Leprosy in their attempt to keep safe, which is very embarrassing for the patients.

Over the passage of time, the social exclusion thus experienced by the patients leads them to developing different kinds of psychological problems in addition to health problems. Patients experience a range of behavioral changes and concerns by their families and friends which has a negative impact on the performance of the patients in all aspects of life (Kar et al. 31). Leprosy is often treated with a multidrug therapy that may lead to development of some other symptoms in the patients (Rawlani et al.). To conclude, Leprosy is a mildly contagious disease generally found in tropical regions that causes the occurrence of patches and lesions on skins and twisting and disfigurement of bones by damaging the tissues, thus causing embarrassment and social anxiety and exclusion among the patients in addition to the pain and agony.

Works Cited:Gillen, Alan L. The Genesis of Germs: The Origin of Diseases and the Coming Plagues. New Leaf Publishing Group, 2007. Print. Kar, Samrat et al. “Study of Social Functioning in Leprosy Patients.” Orissa Journal Psychiatry. Sep. 2009. Web. 12 March. 2014. . Rawlani, Shivlal et al. “Current scenario of leprosy patients taking multidrug therapy.” Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists. 22 (2012), 130-135.