Leprosy. A disease that is successfully treated.

Chronic disease, the causative agent of which is the microbacterium is leprosy, we know it as leprosy. The disease is mainly located on the skin and affects the peripheral nerves, mucous eyes and upper respiratory tract. This disease is very slowly progressing, and the incubation period can drag on for many years. The patient's first symptoms can only appear in twenty years.

Because of the long incubation period, the disease is difficult to identify. For diagnosis at the earliest stages, the best solution is to conduct a skin test. This is especially important, since fast and qualitative treatment requires rapid detection of a disease such as leprosy. The disease can cause serious complications, such as that writers of past centuries frightened us in books, only at a late stage of their development. This deformation of the limbs, blindness and skin ulcers. Fortunately, thanks to modern methods of treatment, such terrible consequences remain in the past.

In recent years, the growth of the disease has significantly decreased. But in tropical countries the risk of contracting is still high. The main risk group is people with weakened immunity and poor people. Experts believe that the disease can only be transmitted from an infected person, and close contact between people is necessary, for example, a handshake. People of all ages can catch this dangerous bacterium, but children under the age of ten are most at risk. It is estimated that for today on our planet there are about fifteen million people with such a disease as leprosy.

Disease exists in two most common forms. Both lead to ulcers on the surface of the skin, but the lepromatous type of the disease has more severe symptoms than the tuberculoid. In a disease like leprosy, the symptoms are very pronounced and include the formation of red-brown spots on the skin, knots and tubercles. Eyebrows and eyelashes drop out. The nose is deformed, the lobes of the ears noticeably thicken, ulcers appear on the nasal mucosa and mouth. Characteristic development of shortness of breath, distortion of the voice, deterioration of vision, in the most neglected cases, blindness occurs. Since the onset of the progression of the disease, weakness in the muscles begins to be felt, arms and legs grow dumb .

If a person feels a constant malaise, complains of severe neuralgic pains, digestive system disorders, joint pains and increasing weakness every day, it may be the first signs of such a disease as leprosy. Symptoms may include fever, hyperesthesia, and paresthesia. First of all, the patient should seek advice from a dermatologist and if leprosy is found, treatment should be started immediately.

Throughout the world, there is a large number of leproseries, places where the patient will receive full medical attention. If leprosy is found, treatment begins with the use of antibiotics, such as minocycline, macrolide, fluoroquinolone, rifampicin and dapsone. Such a powerful dose is used to completely destroy bacteria, through which leprosy develops. The disease is quickly cured by a complex of several types of antibiotics. To control the inflammatory processes, thalidomide, prednisolone and aspirin are used. After the bacteria completely disappear, the patient can be safely discharged and continue treatment at home. He becomes not dangerous to others and can continue to live a full life, work, communicate with friends, enjoy every day and benefit others.