5 Min Read.webp "Eradicating Leprosy: Insights & Actions | World Leprosy Day")
Did you know that leprosy, present since ancient times and once feared incurable, is entirely treatable now? Thanks to modern medicine, the disease can be effectively cured, allowing individuals with leprosy to lead healthy, productive lives. In India, leprosy cases have dropped from 0.69 per 10,000 people (2014-15) to 0.45 (2021-22). Moreover, the annual detection of new leprosy cases has also fallen from 9.73 per 100,000 people (2014 - 15) to 5.52 (2021 - 22).
World Leprosy Day is observed every year on the last Sunday of January. It always serves as a reminder that despite medical advancements, stigma and delayed treatments remain significant barriers. The 2025 World Leprosy Day theme, ’Unite. Act. Eliminate,’ calls for raising awareness, taking proactive measures, and eliminating leprosy forever.
Synopsis
The History of World Leprosy Day
World Leprosy Day, also known as World Leprosy Eradication Day, dates back to 1954 when French philanthropist Raoul Follereau took on the mission of challenging the social misconceptions and stigma surrounding leprosy. He chose January 30th, the date of death of Mahatma Gandhi, as he was known by then to shower compassion and deeply commit to the cause of Leprosy. Later, several global and local organisations started observing the date as World Leprosy Day, thus creating a platform to raise awareness, promote education, and advocate for eliminating the stigma surrounding the disease.
What is Leprosy?
Leprosy, also called Hansen’s disease, is an infectious disease that causes disfiguring sores and nerve damage in your eyes, arms, legs, skin, and around the body. The disease is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, a gram-positive, acid-fast bacilli. Leprosy is not considered a highly contagious disease, although transmission is possible through the sneezing or coughing of an infected person. It is a myth that leprosy can be transmitted through hugs, when shaking hands or sharing meals, or when sitting or standing next to an infected person.
What are the Symptoms of Leprosy?
Leprosy symptoms primarily affect the skin, nerves, and nose lining. Symptoms can appear anywhere from three to five years after infection, and in some cases, it may take up to two decades. The main symptoms of Leprosy include:
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Reddish skin patches or loss of pigmentation
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Tingling or numbness effect on hands, arms, feet, and legs
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Absence of skin sensation
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Painless burns or wounds around hands and feet
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Nasal congestion or bleeding
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Loss of eyebrows
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Stiffening or thickening of skin
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Enlarged peripheral nerves
In advanced stages, leprosy could lead to paralysis, nose disfigurement, vision loss, permanent hand and foot damage, chronic ulcers or sores on the bottom of feet that do not heal, and shorter toes and fingers.
What Are the Types of Leprosy?
Leprosy is classified based on the number and type of sores present on the skin. Symptoms and treatments also vary based on the classification. The types include:
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Tuberculoid Leprosy / Paucibacillary Leprosy: This type of leprosy often exhibits mild symptoms and has only one or a few skin patches. You may also feel numbness. It is considered less contagious.
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Lepromatous Leprosy / Multibacillary Leprosy: Considered severe, this type has more widespread skin patches or rashes, accompanied by muscle weakness and numbness. It can also impact the nose lining, kidneys, and male reproductive organs. Multibacillary leprosy is considered more contagious than paucibacillary leprosy
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Borderline Leprosy: Individuals with borderline leprosy often exhibit both signs of tuberculoid leprosy and lepromatous leprosy.
How is Leprosy Diagnosed?
Experts will look for patches or other skin changes. If leprosy is suspected, diagnosis mostly includes performing a skin biopsy or taking out nerve samples to confirm the presence of bacteria that cause leprosy. Experts may also perform other tests to rule out other skin conditions.
How is Leprosy Treated?
Leprosy treatment is generally carried out based on the type you have. Multi-drug therapy (MDT) is the common treatment, which is a combination of three antibiotics. The usually prescribed medications include Dapsone, Rifampicin, and Clofazimine. In severe leprosy, the treatment duration can stretch from 6 months to a year.
Nerve damage due to leprosy, however, cannot be treated. Anti-inflammatory drugs like steroids are usually prescribed to address nerve pain.
Complete recovery can take around one to two years. During your treatment, our experts will be monitoring your condition and progress of treatment.
What Steps Should I Take To Prevent Leprosy?
One of the best ways to prevent leprosy is to take caution when you are around individuals with leprosy. Chances of survival are at best if you undergo early diagnosis and treatment. In case of contact, follow-up checks are conducted for at least five years.
Insights on World Leprosy Eradication Day 2025
Being an ignored tropical disease, a collaborative effort from multiple stakeholders is necessary to successfully raise awareness and eradicate leprosy. Recognising this need, this year’s theme, ’Unite. Act. Eliminate,’ demands the following actions:
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Unite: All stakeholders, including governments, NGOs, and healthcare providers, are called to unite their efforts against leprosy.
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Act: It emphasises immediate action through proactive measures like public education, preventive measures, early detection and timely treatment, and formulating measures to prevent disease transmission.
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Eliminate: Even though leprosy is almost eliminated. WHO calls for continued investment in diagnostics, treatments, and outreach programs.
Conclusion
Leprosy once considered an incurable disease, is now treatable thanks to modern medicine, allowing individuals to lead healthy lives. In India, leprosy cases have significantly decreased in recent years. However, there are continuous efforts to completely eradicate the disease. World Leprosy Day, observed on the last Sunday of January, raises awareness about the disease and its stigma, with the 2025 theme, "Unite. Act. Eliminate," urging global action for its eradication. Being one of the stakeholders in the fight against leprosy, we understand the need for public education and outreach programs. Manipal Hospitals, Bhubaneswar, is dedicated to the prevention, early diagnosis, and timely treatment, ensuring the disease is in control.
FAQ's
Leprosy, also called Hansen’s disease, is an infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It affects the skin, eyes, nerves, and upper respiratory tract. Although it is treatable with modern methods, the disease still poses a significant challenge globally due to delayed diagnosis and lack of awareness.
Recognising the leprosy symptoms early can help with disease control and prevent long-term disabilities and the spread of the disease. The main symptoms of Leprosy include:
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Reddish skin patches or loss of pigmentation
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Tingling or numbness effect on hands, arms, feet, and legs
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Absence of skin sensation
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Painless burns or wounds around hands and feet
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Muscle weakness
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Vision loss
Yes, leprosy can be cured in recent times. Highly effective and safe drugs are now available to treat leprosy. Multi-drug therapy (MDT) is the common treatment, which is a combination of three antibiotics. The usually prescribed medications include Dapsone, Rifampicin, and Clofazimine. In severe leprosy, the treatment duration can stretch from 6 months to a year.
Even though leprosy has been significantly controlled, there is still progress to be made in eradicating the disease. This is only possible by raising awareness and public education. Therefore, this year's theme for World Leprosy Day focuses on the importance of leprosy awareness and emphasises early detection and treatment to prevent complications.
To schedule an appointment at Manipal Hospitals, contact our Department or visit our website.
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