Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae bacteria. It primarily affects the nerves, skin, and respiratory tract. Gerhard Armauer Hansen discovered the bacteria that causes leprosy in 1873. Transmission occurs through droplets from the nose and mouth of untreated patients. Symptoms include skin lesions and loss of sensation in the hands, feet and face. Diagnosis involves clinical signs, skin smears, skin biopsies, and lepromin testing for immune response. Left untreated, leprosy can cause permanent damage to skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.

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Leprosy

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Discoveredby
Gerhard Armauer Hansen
in 1873

3. Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a
chronic, systemic infectious disease,
affecting primarily the peripheral
nerves and secondarily the skin,
mucous membranes, the eyes,
bones, lymph nodes.
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5. Chronic granulomatous infection caused byAcid
Fast Bacteria Mycobacterium leprae (Ml)
Ml cannot be grown on culture media--- in vitro
drug sensitivity is not possible
Growth and Drug susceptibility are done by
injecting inoculate in mouse foot pad
Transmitted from person to person through nose,
skin lesions of the infected persons.
Affect mainly PNS, NS, Skin and various tissues
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6. •M.Leprae cannot be grow in In-vitro method
•It can grown only in foot pads of mouse and
armadillo animals

8. Skin
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Peripheral Nerves

9. Mode of infection:
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Leprosy is slow communicable disease and
incubation period is between first exposure
and appearance of signs of disease.
Direct contact: Prolonged close contact of
susceptible individuals to an open case of
leprosy (damaged skin, nasal secretions,
mucous membrane contact).
Materno- foetal transmission.
Transmission from milk from mother to
infant.

10. Transmission
 Nasal/oral Droplets
 Dermal Inoculations
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11. TRANSMISSION:

12. Incidence
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At highest risk are those living in endemic
areas (hot and moist) with poor
conditions such as inadequate bedding,
contaminated water
, and insufficient diet,
or other diseases that compromise
immune function.
Acc to WHO- India, Brazil, Indonesia,
Myanmar and Nigeria are with the most
cases.

13. Classification
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Main 2 types:
Tuberculoid type:high resistance.
Lepromatous type: low resistance
Case not fallingin these 2 are considered
as borderline leprosy.

14. Classification
Based on the clinical, bacteriologic, immunologic and
histopathologic features, leprosy is classified into
types:
1. Paucibacillary example: (Tuberculoid leprosy) (TL)
(with scanty or absent bacilli) - Skin lesions,
loss of sensation.
2. Multibacillary (Border line) (with numerous
bacilli)---numerous skin lesions, loss of sensation,
can go to
3. Multibacillary (lepromatous leprosy) (LL).
Nodules and plaques, thickened dermis, loss of
sensation, neuronal damage, nasal congestion,
epistaxis.
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15. Symptoms
Leprosy attacks the nervous system,
particularly the nerves of the hands, feet and
face.
In tuberculoid leprosy, skin lesions typically
develop in areas of nerve damage. Skin
becomes pale, may develop a reddish copper
colour.
Lepromatous leprosy: Loss of sensation to pin-
prick or light touch. Starts at the fingers and
toes, affectasmall patch of skin to beginwith,
nodules develop. Organ deformaties
but as time passes many skin lesions and
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16. The bacilli are usually absent in slit-skin
smears.
The histopathology shows tuberculoid
granulomas composed of epithelioid cells
surrounded by a zone of lymphocytes.
Lepromin test is strongly positive.
Tuberculoid Leprosy
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19. They are numerous, bilateral,
symmetrical, ill-defined with shiny
surface.
The sites commonly affected are
the face, arms, legs and buttocks,
but may be anywhere.
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Lepromatous Laprosy
Cutaneous lesions consist of
macules, papules, infiltration or
nodules (lepromas).

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22. Diagnosis
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1Clinical symptom diagnosis:
(anesthesia, nerve enlargement, and
characteristic skin lesions).
2Slit-skin smears: Ziehl Neelson staining
of skin smear.
3Skin biopsy.
4-Nerve biopsy.
5-Lepromin test.

23. 1. Clinical symptom diagnosis
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24. 2. Skin Smear Tests
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Ziehl Neelsen Carbol Fuchsin Stain (ZNCF)
Absence of bacteria in smear: Paucibacillary
Presence of bacteria in smear: Multibacillary

25. 3. Lepromin test
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It is an immunologic test indicative of host resistance to
M. leprae.
A sample of inactivated (unable to cause infection)
leprosy-causing bacteria is injected just under the skin,
usually on the forearm
Tuberculoid: The immune system recognizes and
produces allergic reaction: Positive
Lepromatous: The immune system does not recognizes
Negative

26. Mechanism of Nerve Damage
Entry Through Blood Vessels
Inflammatory Response
Demyelination
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27.  Sensory Loss
 Paralysis
 Deformities
Outcomes of Nerve Damage
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