Leprosy meaning - #6763
I recently came across the term leprosy, and I didn’t realize it still exists today. What exactly is the meaning of leprosy, and how does it affect the body? From what I read, leprosy (Hansen’s disease) is a chronic bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. But how does someone catch leprosy, and is it still contagious in modern times? I also learned that leprosy symptoms include skin lesions, numbness, muscle weakness, and nerve damage, but why does it take years for symptoms to appear? Can early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics fully cure leprosy, or does it cause permanent nerve damage? Another thing I wonder is why leprosy was historically feared and associated with isolation. Is it true that some people with leprosy still face stigma and discrimination today? For those who have studied or treated leprosy, how effective are modern treatments, and is there still a risk of outbreaks in some parts of the world?
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