What is Leprosy? list out the type of Leprosy.

Question:

What is Leprosy? list out the type of Leprosy.

Answer:

Leprosy is a disease that causes severe, scarring skin sores and nerve damage in the limbs. Leprosy disease has affected people on every continent. Leprosy is actually not that infectious but it spreads when a healthy person comes in regular and close contact with mouse droplets and leprosy patient. Children get more affected by this disease than adults. Almost, 180000 people all over the world get infected with leprosy.

The Leprosy disease mainly affects the peripheral nerves, skin, upper respiratory tract and the eyes. The most prevalent possibility of transmission is through the respiratory route. Leprosy is also transmitted through insects.

Let us have a detailed look at the Leprosy disease, different types of leprosy, causes of Leprosy, symptoms and treatment of Leprosy disease.

Types of Leprosy

There are six types of leprosy and are mainly classified based on the severity of symptoms, which include- Intermediate, Tuberculoid, Borderline tuberculoid, Mid-borderline, Borderline and Lepromatous leprosy.

Let us know more about each of them in detail.

Intermediate Leprosy

It is the earliest stage of leprosy. In this stage, patients suffer from flat lesions which may heal by themselves without progressing in case of strong immunity.

Tuberculoid Leprosy

It is the mild and less serious type of leprosy. People suffering from this disease have some patches of flat and pale-colored skin and have no sensation in the affected area because of nerve damage. This is less infectious than other forms. This infection heals on its own, or it can persist and progress to a more severe form.

Borderline tuberculoid Leprosy

The symptoms at this stage are quite similar to the tuberculoid but the infections may be quite smaller and more in number which may continue and revert to tuberculoid, or to any other advanced form.

Mid-borderline Leprosy

The sign and symptoms of this stage are quite similar to the Borderline tuberculoid leprosy. This includes reddish plaques with the numbness which may regress or progress to another form.

Borderline Leprosy

This type of leprosy is a cutaneous skin condition and the main symptoms include multiple wounds or scars including plaques, flat, raised bumps that may continue or regress.

Lepromatous Leprosy

It is considered a more severe type of disease with many lesions with bacteria. The affected region is full of bumps, numbness, muscle weakness and rashes. Other symptoms include limb weakness, hair loss and other body parts such as kidneys, nose and male reproductive system are also affected. It is more infectious than tuberculoid leprosy which never regresses.