WHO: Leprosy Statistics:
According to the World Health Organization's latest stats on leprosy in the world, there are still around 200,000 reported new cases of leprosy every year in the world. Also known as Hansen's Disease, leprosy is endemic in 91 countries around the world. The highest concentration of reported new cases (at the start of 2012) being in South East Asia (117,147). The majority of which are in India. The second highest incidence is in the Americas (34,801), of these reported new cases the majority are from Brazil. But because of its long incubation period and the lack of tools to allow early detection leading to late diagnosis, the exact prevalence of Hansen's disease is not clear.
India:
Although the Indian Government declared it has eliminated leprosy in 2005. It has since then become clear that the claim was premature. Of the total leprosy cases in the world 55% are in India, and about 127,000 new cases were reported between 2010-2011. Besides lack of access to basic healthcare services, leprosy patients also suffer socioeconomic isolation as a result of the stigma and discrimination that still exists in India.
Brazil:
Leprosy is more prevalent in Brazil than in any other country except India. More than 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Despite economic development, expansion of public healthcare, and efforts of the leprosy control program in the past 30 years, this disease has not been eliminated, and new cases are still being detected. The leprosy control program in Brazil distributes free drugs as part of the World Health Organization multidrug regimen for treatment of leprosy. Unfortunately health care services are not available in rural parts of the country. The amazon region of Brazil where leprosy has been endemic for more than a century is almost deprived of such health services.
Leprosy
is particularly prevalent among the poorest and most marginalised
communities due to their lack of access to healthcare, poor sanitation
and congested living spaces. - See more at:
http://www.tlmindia.org/index.php/about-leprosy/facts#sthash.zlOMnaBW.dpuf
Government
statistics under estimate the extent of leprosy according to research
organisations, NGOs and some medical personnel who argue that leprosy
cases are on the rise - See more at:
http://www.tlmindia.org/index.php/about-leprosy/facts#sthash.zlOMnaBW.dpuf
Government
statistics under estimate the extent of leprosy according to research
organisations, NGOs and some medical personnel who argue that leprosy
cases are on the rise - See more at:
http://www.tlmindia.org/index.php/about-leprosy/facts#sthash.zlOMnaBW.dpuf
Government
statistics under estimate the extent of leprosy according to research
organisations, NGOs and some medical personnel who argue that leprosy
cases are on the rise - See more at:
http://www.tlmindia.org/index.php/about-leprosy/facts#sthash.zlOMnaBW.dpuf
To understand why the stigmatization, socioeconomic isolation, discrimination leading to leprosy communities in countries like India and Brazil is so wrong, here are some basic facts about Leprosy( Hansen's Disease);What is Leprosy?
Leprosy is a chronic bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. This infection primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves and upper airway. It is well known that leprosy is not spread through casual contact.
About 95% of human beings are naturally immune making leprosy the 'least contagious communicable disease'. The World Health Organization suggests that it is transmitted through moisture from the nose and mouth during frequent and close contact with an untreated leprosy-affected person. It might also happen if you are exposed to other nasal fluids (also known as secretions). Droplets and other secretions can contain the bacteria that cause Hansen’s disease. If you breathe these in, you can become sick with the disease.
According to the CDC, as incubation period of the bacteria is long , it may take up to 2-10 years for signs and symptoms to appear. The disease mainly affects the skin, nerves and the mucous membranes. Common signs and symptoms include; disfiguring skin sores, lumps, or bumps that do not go away after several weeks or months. The skin sores are pale-colored. Nerve damage can lead to loss of feeling in arms and legs and muscle weakness. Without treatment, leprosy can permanently damage your skin, nerves, arms, legs, feet, and eyes.
Treatment of Leprosy
Leprosy can be cured. In the last two decades, more than
14 million people with leprosy have been cured. The World Health
Organization provides free treatment for all people with leprosy.
Treatment
depends on the type of leprosy that you have. It is treated with a combination of antibiotics. The treatment may last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. People with severe
leprosy may need to take antibiotics longer. Antibiotics cannot treat
the nerve damage.
Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to control swelling related to leprosy. This may include steroids, such as prednisone.
Patients with leprosy may also be given thalidomide,
a potent medication that suppresses the body's immune system. It helps
treat leprosy skin nodules. Thalidomide is known to cause severe,
life-threatening birth defects and should never be taken by pregnant women.
According to the WHO 'Access to information, diagnosis and treatment with multidrug therapy
(MDT) remain key elements in the strategy to eliminate the disease as a
public health problem, defined as reaching a prevalence of less than 1
leprosy case per 10,000 population. Only a couple of endemic countries
have still to achieve this goal at the national level; most are now
applying the same elimination strategy at regional, district and
sub-district levels.
MDT treatment has been made available by WHO free of charge to all
patients worldwide since 1995, and provides a simple yet highly
effective cure for all types of leprosy.
Most countries that were previously highly endemic for leprosy have
achieved elimination at the national level and are intensifying their
efforts at regional and district levels.'
Information campaigns about leprosy in high risk areas are crucial so
that patients and their families, who were historically ostracized from
their communities, are encouraged to come forward and receive treatment.
The most effective way of preventing disabilities in leprosy, as well
as preventing further transmission of the disease, lies in early
diagnosis and treatment with MDT. (WHO)
P.S:
The Leprosy Mission India
The Leprosy Mission Canada
Hansen's Disease (CDC)
Leprosy (WebMD)
Leprosy Today (WHO)
National Hansen's Disease Program (HRSA)
Watch Video: Leprosy in Brazil: Uncovering a hidden disease (The Guardian)
Watch Video: Battling leprosy in Brazil(BBC World)
Watch Video: Leprosy: India's Hidden Disease (The Guardian)
Photo Gallery: Colonia Antonio Alexio - Leprosy community in Manaus, Brazil (Photojournalist: Sharon Steinmann)
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