leprosy

Leprosy
> it is a bacterial disease of the SKIN, PERIPHERAL NERVE, AND UPPER AIRWAY producing deformities of cartilages.
>also know as HANSENS DISEASE
Causative agent: HANSENS bacillus /mycobacterium leprae
Mode of transmission
>skin to skin (in open lesions ) , respiratory secretions, fomites and insects , transplacental
Incubation period : 1-5 years
Period of communicability : as long as there is open lesions
Manifestation
• Change in skin color (red or white)
• Loss of sensation over skin lesion
• Loss or decrease in sweating
• Hair growth over the lesions
• Thickened and painful peripheral nerve
• Muscle weakness or paralysis of extrimities
• Pain and redness of eye
• Nasal obstruction or bleeding
• Ulcers that do not heal
Two types of leprosy
1 lepromatous –with papules and macules usually numerous and extensive , this may involve the mucusa resulting to obstruction of airway leading to respiratory problem. Also causes dilatation of blood vessel resulting to epistaxis .
2 tuberculoid – few skin lesion and with anesthetics effect (loss of sensation)
-there is involvement of nerves
Complication of leprosy : deformities (destruction of cartilages )and paralysis(due to blood vessel inflammation)
Diagnosis : lepromine skin test (cross sensitivity to tuberculosis )
Prevention :BCG vaccination @ least six months of life

Treatment : DAPSONE, AVLOSULFONE, DIAMINOPHENYL SULFONE
>Treatment given for TUBERCULOID @ minimum of 2year or @ least ! year after s/s appear
>treatment given for LEPROMATUS @minimum of $ year or @ least @ year after s/s appear.
For paralysis treatment : frednisome, dapsone, rifampicine, isonycotynic, hydrazine,
Nsg. Intervention : isolation