Leprosy is treatable and curable
AT one point in time, those with leprosy were made to carry bells to warn others of their arrival so people could keep a distance. Often, they spent their lives in isolation. This was the stigma associated with this disease.
In Malaysia, the Sungai Buloh Leprosarium was built in 1930 to isolate families with leprosy so they could undergo long-term treatment with dignity.
But ever since the introduction of multidrug therapy for leprosy, there was no longer a need to isolate these patients as they were no longer infectious.
Leprosy is not common, but still exists in Malaysia, especially among foreign workers, says Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur dermatologist Dr Peter Ch’ng Wee Beng.
Worldwide prevalence has also decreased ever since the introduction of multidrug therapy by the World Health Organisation.
“With better understanding of leprosy, people will not discriminate against individuals affected by this disease.”
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic bacterial disease mainly affecting the skin and nerves and is caused by a bacteria called ‘Mycobacterium leprae’, says Dr Ch’ng. This bacterium is not the usual one that can be killed with typical shortterm antibiotics.
Sufferers will typically experience lighter skin colour or a rash with skin numbness, thickened nerves and deformities.
“Till now, we still don’t exactly know how it is spread but most evidence points towards it being airborne,” says Dr Ch’ng.
It is very unlikely to catch leprosy if someone comes into short contact with an untreated leprosy patient. However, if a person has prolonged close contact with an untreated patient, then there is a risk of contracting the disease. Once a patient has started medication for leprosy, he or she will not be infectious.
If leprosy is not treated promptly, patients may develop facial disfigurement, skin ulcers and nerve damage leading to deformities and even blindness.
“They can be treated in all public hospitals with dermatologists. As mentioned earlier, once they are on medication, they are not infectious and there is no need for them to be isolated.”
It is a curable disease, adds Dr Ch’ng. On very rare occasions patients may have a resistant strain but even then, there will be alternative medication.