Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused mainly by slow-growing bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae and sometimes Mycobacterium lepromatosis
. It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and eyes
. The infection can cause skin lesions that are pale or discolored, loss of sensation (numbness), muscle weakness, and nerve damage, which may lead to permanent disabilities such as paralysis, blindness, and deformities if left untreated
. The disease is transmitted through droplets from the nose and mouth during prolonged, close, and frequent contact with untreated individuals
. However, leprosy is not highly contagious; about 95% of people exposed to the bacteria do not develop the disease due to natural immunity
. It does not spread through casual contact like shaking hands, hugging, or sharing meals
. Leprosy symptoms may appear within one year of infection but can also take 20 years or more to develop
. Early diagnosis and treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT) can cure the disease and prevent disability
. Despite being curable, leprosy still carries significant social stigma and discrimination in many regions
. In summary, leprosy is a bacterial infection causing skin and nerve damage, curable with early treatment, but requiring close contact for transmission and often associated with social stigma
