In order to raise awareness among general public about Leprosy or Hansen's Disease, World Leprosy Day has been observed on last Sunday of January. The theme for this year is "Beat Leprosy, End Stigma And Advocate For Mental Wellbeing".
World Leprosy Eradication Day
Since ages, Leprosy has been associated with several myths, and people who are suffering from it have been abandoned by their families/societies and were forced to spend rest of their lives in misery n agony.
Still today, this social stigma is still attaches in some parts of the globe.
एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार सम्पूर्ण विश्व के कुष्ट रोग पीड़ितों में से करीब ६०% केसेस अकेले भारत में ही हैं, परन्तु कुष्ट रोग से सम्बंधित भ्रांतियों के करण भी कई सारे केसेस कभी भी सामने नही आ पाते.
वर्ष २०१४-१५ में NLEP वालंटियर्स द्वारा किया गए एक सर्वे के मुताबिक करीब १५ हज़ार नए केसेस रजिस्टर किये गए हैं. इकीसवीं सदी में भी आज समाज में कुष्ठ रोगियों को अपमान झेलना पड़ता है, कितनी ही बार परिजन भी साथ छोड़ देते है.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a bascilli, Mycobacterium leprae.
शरीर में प्रवेश करने के बाद यह बैक्टीरिया लम्बे समय तक इनएक्टिव रहता है, और अफ्फेक्टेड व्यक्ति में इसके लक्षण कई वर्षों बाद सामने आते हैं.
Leprosy mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes.
The main symptom of leprosy is disfiguring skin sores, lumps, or bumps that do not go away after several weeks or months. The skin sores are pale-colored.
Without treatment, leprosy can permanently damage your skin, nerves, arms, legs, feet, and eyes. It's complications include blindness, dis-figuration of face, kidney failure, muscle weakness, etc.
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| Leprosy cure (image credit:slidesharecdn) |
Leprosy is curable and treatment provided in the early stages averts disability.
The treatment include MDT, i.e. Multi Drug Therapy, a combination of rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone for MB leprosy patients and rifampicin and dapsone for PB leprosy patients. Among these rifampicin is the most important antileprosy drug and therefore is included in the treatment of both types of leprosy.
With increasing number of cases, it's important to make people aware about Leprosy, its spread n implications. Practicing health n hygiene principles, ensuring proper sanitation in day to day life will ensure it's control.
Dr. Pooja Pathak
for SwavalambanRehab
(info source: WHO, webmd)
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