Eye Involvement: Blindness occurs in 2.8% of all patients affected by leprosy. "Eye damage results from both nerve damage and direct bacillary invasion" (p. 1213).
Systemic Involvement: Other systems that are impacted by leprosy include: nasal passages, bones, testes and kidneys. Leprosy results increases of testosterone in the body. This can lead to both testicular atrophy and kidney dysfunction.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of leprosy can be a significant challenge for medical professionals. What is perhaps most challenging about leprosy is that contraction of the bacteria will not always result in the development of the disease. As reported by Jacobson and Krahenbuhl (1999) when the Mycobacterium leprae bacterium is transmitted, the body is often able to mount a natural immune response that will prevent systemic infection. In many instances, this response is successful, resulting in no long-term health implications for the affected individual. However, in some instances, the body's natural defenses will fail. However, when this occurs it may take several years for the bacteria to build up enough potency to manifest. Further, the initial manifestation of leprosy may be a single lesion that heals. Thus, for medical professionals, diagnosis of leprosy in the early stages can be a notable challenge. Further, once a diagnosis has been made, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to trace the origins of the bacteria. This is due to the fact that leprosy can take several years to manifest. As such, developing effective preventive public health interventions to stop the spread of the diseases remains a notable challenge (Jacobson & Krahenbuhl, 1999).
Treatment review of the literature with regard to the treatment of leprosy indicates that with aggressive treatment, leprosy can be cured. Further, research indicates that with early intervention, the disease can be cured before disability occurs. Unfortunately, once significant nerve damage has occurred as a result of the disease, this damage cannot be repaired. Among the most effective treatments...
The incubation period ranges from six months to forty years or longer, with the average period being two to three years (Harrop pp). Leprosy is probably spread primarily by airborne droplets from the nasal mucosa and upper airways, and may also be transmitted by insects, skin contact, breast milk and the placenta of infected mothers (Style pp). The communicability of leprosy is very low; perhaps 90% or more of humans
Thalidomide Although the United States succeeded in averting the same thalidomide tragedy that occurred in Europe by refusing to approve the drug, some observers counter that the action introduced unnecessary delays in the approval of many useful drugs. Given that thalidomide is now accepted as an effective treatment for leprosy, this paper provides an evaluation concerning whether Dr. Frances Kelsey was correct in stopping the development of thalidomide in the
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