Go see a doctor at least once a year to make sure that you don’t have the disease. M. leprae grow really slowly. It could take a you up to 5 years from the time of infection to even begin showing symptom. …show more content…
It primarily affects the nerves and the skin. Early treatment prevents significant disability or disfigurement.
There is currently no vaccination to prevent leprosy, but there is research underway to develop a vaccine specific to the disease. Until then, the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine offers some protection against leprosy in addition to tuberculosis.
Yes! The WHO (World Health Organization) has supplied MDT (multidrug therapy) free to leprosy patients all over the world since 1995.
You should go to your local doctor because they are able to assist you in finding the right treatment option for you. Additionally, they are able to answer any questions and concerns that you may have about the disease.
Yes! Leprosy is curable and if treatment is provided early in the disease, disability can be avoided. It’s cured with a combination of three antibiotics (dapsone, clofazimine, and rifampin) known as multidrug therapy (MDT). Typically, the length of treatment ranges from six months to one year. After the first dose of MDT, 99.9% of microorganisms causing leprosy are killed. One week into treatment, patients are no longer