A chronic disease caused by a microbacter is leprosy, which we know as leprosy. The disease is located mainly on the skin and affects the peripheral nerves, mucous membranes of the eye and upper respiratory tract. This disease progresses very slowly, and the incubation period can drag on for many years. The first symptoms in a patient can occur only after twenty years.
Due to the long incubation period, the disease is difficult to detect. For diagnosis at the earliest stages, the best solution would be a skin test. This is especially important, because fast and high-quality treatment requires the rapid detection of a disease such as leprosy. The disease can cause serious complications, such as the writers of past centuries scared us in books, only at a late stage of their development. These are limb deformities, blindness and skin ulcers. Fortunately, thanks to modern treatment methods, such terrible consequences remain in the past.
In recent years, disease growth has declined significantly. But in tropical countries, the risk of infection is still quite high. The main risk group is people with weakened immunity and the poor. Experts believe that the disease can only be transmitted from an infected person, and rather close contact between people, for example, a handshake, is required. People of all ages can catch this dangerous bacterium, but children under the age of ten are most at risk. It is estimated that today on our planet there are about fifteen million people with a disease such as leprosy.
The disease exists in two of the most common forms. Both lead to ulcers on the surface of the skin, but the lepromatous type of disease has more severe symptoms than tuberculoid. In a disease such as leprosy, the symptoms are very pronounced and include the formation of red-brown spots on the skin, nodes and tubercles. Eyebrows and eyelashes fall out. The nose is deformed, the earlobes noticeably thicken, ulcers appear on the mucous membrane of the nose and mouth. Characterized by the development of shortness of breath, voice distortion, visual impairment, in the most advanced cases, blindness occurs. From the onset of disease progression, muscle weakness begins to feel, arms and legs go numb .
If a person feels a constant malaise, complains of severe neuralgic pain, digestive system disorders, joint pain and growing weakness every day, perhaps these are the first signs of a disease such as leprosy. Symptoms may include fever, hyperesthesia, and paresthesia. First of all, the patient should seek the advice of a dermatologist and if leprosy is detected, treatment should begin immediately.
Around the world there are a large number of leper colony, places where the patient will be provided with full medical care. If leprosy is detected, treatment begins with antibiotics such as minocycline, macrolide, fluoroquinolone, rifampicin and dapsone. Such a powerful dose is used to completely destroy the bacteria, due to which leprosy develops. The disease is most quickly cured by a complex of several types of antibiotics. Thalidomide, prednisone and aspirin are used to control inflammatory processes. After the bacteria completely disappear, the patient can safely prescribe and continue treatment at home. It becomes not dangerous for others and can continue to live a full life, work, chat with friends, enjoy every day and benefit others.