

What is the main cause of leprosy?Ĭoming into close contact with the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy. For this reason, it’s difficult for health providers to determine when and where the infection took place. In some cases, it can even take up to two decades. Once infected with Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, it takes about three to five years for leprosy symptoms to appear. Chronic ulcers on the bottom of the feet that don’t heal.Permanent damage to the hands and feet.When the disease is in the advanced stages, it can cause: Painless wounds or burns on the hands and feet.Īdditionally, people with leprosy may develop:.Numbness or tingling in your hands, feet, arms and legs.
#Armadillo leprosy skin#

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 208,000 people have leprosy around the globe, with most cases found in Asia and Africa. Although it’s rare, leprosy still exists today. Today, effective treatment is available, and there’s no need to quarantine people with leprosy. For centuries, people isolated and shunned those with leprosy because the disease wasn’t understood. Leprosy has been around since ancient times. It can affect your eyes, skin, mucous membranes and nerves, causing disfiguring sores and nerve damage. Leprosy (also called Hansen’s disease) is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae (my-co-bak-TEER-ee-um LEP-pray).
