Leprosy is an infectious disease that causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms and legs.
Leprosy is caused by a slow-growing type of bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae).
symptom of leprosy is skin and the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, called the peripheral nerves. It may also strike the eyes and the thin tissue lining the inside of the nose.
The appearance of the disease is a rash , red blister, skin color lighter or darker than the normal skin , dry skin, numbness, no sweat, no rod and slow-growing .
Nerve damage can lead to Loss of feeling in the arms and legs ,Muscle weakness.
It usually takes about 3 to 5 years for symptoms to appear after coming into contact with the leprosy-causing bacteria. Some people do not develop symptoms until 20 years later. The time between contact with the bacteria and the appearance of symptoms is called the incubation period. Leprosy's long incubation period makes it very difficult for doctors to determine when and where a person with leprosy got infected.
Treatment depends on the type of leprosy that you have. Antibiotics are used to treat the infection. Long-term treatment with two or more antibiotics is recommended, usually from six months to a year. People with severe leprosy may need to take antibiotics longer. Antibiotics cannot treat the nerve damage.