World Day of the fight against leprosy
Dermatology
Author: Laura Sofia Habib AraujoModified date:
Leprosy or Hansen's disease is an infectious disease that affects the peripheral nervous system, the skin, the upper respiratory tract and the eyes. We can suspect it by the lack of sectorized sensitivity in the skin, which is accompanied or not by lesions such as spots, bulges, plaques; etc. You can also take muscle weakness, runny nose, red eyes; among others.
Whenever skin lesions arise, they show sensitivity changes such as numbness, tingling, non-discrimination of touch and / or temperature (hot / cold) and similar sensations.
It is transmitted from person to person through the droplets of nasal / oral secretions during coexistence with untreated patients (Hansen's bacillus carriers), who often have not suspected the disease or have not been diagnosed in a timely manner.
Hansen's disease can leave serious sequelae because of his nervous involvement. The best way to prevent them is to make a diagnosis of timely treatment.
Family members and people close to the diagnosed patients should be seen by a trained doctor to make a general periodic review, perform examinations when they are suspicious cases and thus avoid late diagnoses.
I have worked with Hansen patients since 2013. I started in Brazil (Fiocruz-Ambulatorio Souza Araújo) and now here in Colombia (Derderological Center Federico Lleras Acosta). I learn every day not only from the scientific literature but also from the patients of the program and their families.
The best we can do so that Hansen's numbers in our country do not continue to increase is to know about this disease, put ourselves in the place of the sick and provoke an early diagnosis at all costs.
Any person who presents any of the signs or symptoms of those mentioned at the beginning should be checked in dermatology.
Let's not forget that Leprosy still exists and we can cure it.
What matters to all of us!