What are the 3 main symptoms of leprosy?
The three main symptoms of leprosy (Hansen's disease) include:
- Skin patches that may be red or have a loss of pigmentation.
- Skin patches with diminished or absent sensations.
- Numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, arms and legs.
- Painless wounds or burns on the hands and feet.
- Muscle weakness.
Additionally, people with leprosy (Hansen's disease) may develop:
- Thick or stiff skin.
- Enlarged peripheral nerves.
- Loss of eyelashes or eyebrows.
- Nasal congestion.
- Nosebleeds.
When the disease is in the advanced stages, it can cause:
- Paralysis.
- Vision loss.
- Disfigurement of the nose.
- Permanent damage to the hands and feet.
- Shortening of the fingers and toes.
- Chronic ulcers on the bottom of the feet that don’t heal.
Once infected with Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, it takes about three to five years for leprosy symptoms to appear. In some cases, it can even take up to two decades. For this reason, it’s difficult for health providers to determine when and where the infection took place.
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What is the main cause of leprosy?
Coming into close contact with the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy (Hansen's disease).
Is leprosy (Hansen's disease) contagious?
Although it is not highly contagious, leprosy (Hansen's disease) can spread from person to person. Experts don’t fully understand how the disease spreads from one person to another, but the bacterium is likely transmitted through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. When bacterium is released into the environment, other people can inhale it. Hansen's disease can’t be spread through hugging, shaking hands, sitting next to an infected person or even sexual contact.
It’s important to note that most people have natural immunity to Mycobacterium leprae. In fact, only 5% of all people are truly vulnerable to leprosy (Hansen's disease).
Do armadillos carry leprosy?
Yes, some do. Mycobacterium leprae only grows in living hosts, including certain types of armadillos. Research has confirmed that a species of armadillo native to the southern United States and Mexico can carry leprosy (Hansen's disease) and spread it to humans.
