Leprosy
Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a slow-growing bacterium that primarily targets the skin, peripheral nerves, and mucous membranes. Despite its historical association with disfigurement, leprosy is curable and transmission requires prolonged, close contact. South and Southeast Asia, including India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Myanmar, account for the majority of new cases reported globally each year.
Medicine used to treat Leprosy
How treatment works
Because M. leprae grows so slowly, leprosy requires months to years of multi-drug therapy to prevent resistance and achieve a full cure. The standard regimen combines antibiotics from different classes to clear the bacteria and reduce the nerve damage that causes lasting disability. Clofazimine is a core component of WHO-recommended treatment for the multibacillary (more severe) form; it has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help control the painful immune reactions that can flare during treatment.
Completing the full course is essential. Stopping early risks relapse and ongoing nerve damage, which is the main cause of the permanent disability sometimes seen in untreated or undertreated cases.
Nerve damage and when to act
Early diagnosis is the single most important factor in preventing disability. Warning signs include patches of skin that are lighter or redder than surrounding skin and have reduced sensation, thickened or tender peripheral nerves, and numbness or weakness in the hands or feet. Anyone in a leprosy-endemic area who notices these features should seek medical review promptly.