Which system does leprosy affect

It may also involve the nose, eyes, throat and testicles. In Australia, leprosy is now rare. With the introduction of multi-drug therapy in the early s, the disease is now curable. The main symptom of leprosy is skin lesions.

Other effects of leprosy are due to its impact on the body's nervous system. Leprosy does not affect the central nervous system. However, it can affect the peripheral nervous system PNS sensory, motor and autonomic nerves by:.

Leprosy does not cause flesh to rot or fingers and toes to drop off. In the past, limbs that have been damaged because the person cannot feel pain have sometimes had to be amputated. Now that the disease can be detected early, the need to amputate is rare. How leprosy is transmitted It is not known how leprosy is transmitted. It is thought likely that leprosy is spread from person to person in respiratory droplets droplets expelled from the nose and mouth, for example when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

In cases of leprosy in children under one year of age, it is thought possible that the infection may have been transmitted from the mother via the placenta.

Leprosy is not highly infectious. People at risk are generally in close and frequent contact with leprosy patients or living in countries where the disease is more common.

The incubation period is thought to range from nine months to over 20 years. Before the introduction of multi-drug therapy in the early s, leprosy could only be slowed but not cured, as the bacteria could not be killed. Now, with the use of antibiotics and with other medicines, the disease is curable. Recurring boils happen for a number of reasons…. Certain E. Learn about other bacteria and parasites like pinworms and how to prevent…. Shigellosis is a bacterial infection that affects the digestive system.

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Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. What are the symptoms of leprosy? What does leprosy look like? How does leprosy spread? What are the types of leprosy? How is leprosy diagnosed? How is leprosy treated? What are the potential complications of leprosy? How can I prevent leprosy? Article sources. Read this next. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M. Sputum Stain for Mycobacteria.

This type of leprosy may affect organs such as the kidneys, testicles in men , eyes, and nose. Leprosy is not very contagious. Most cases of leprosy are from repeated and long-term contact with someone who has the disease. Doctors believe that leprosy might be passed from person to person. This happens by breathing in droplets that get into the air when infected people cough or sneeze.

Most people who come in contact with M. However, people whose immune systems are weakened from chronic disease such as diabetes , HIV , AIDS , or heart disease may be more likely to develop leprosy. This is because their immune systems are not strong enough to fight the bacteria.

Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history and the symptoms you are experiencing. They will probably want to remove a tiny piece of the affected skin called a biopsy to check for the M.

Even though the risk of catching leprosy is very low, you can still reduce your risk. The best way to prevent leprosy is to avoid contact with body fluids and the rashes of people who have leprosy. Leprosy is treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics can kill all the M. This is why early treatment is important. You may need to take antibiotics for 6 months or longer, depending on the severity of your infection. If left untreated, leprosy can cause permanent damage to the nerves in the fingers, toes, hands, and feet.

Repeated injuries and nerve damage can cause muscle weakness, deformities, and even the loss of fingers and toes. Untreated leprosy can also cause swelling, and skin sores and lesions that are more severe. If leprosy damages the lining of the nose, it can cause frequent nosebleeds and constant stuffiness.

If leprosy damages your eyes, it can lead to glaucoma and even blindness. Lepromatous leprosy can reduce the amount of the male hormone testosterone and sperm counts in men. This can lead to erectile dysfunction and infertility. In more severe cases, leprosy can also damage the kidneys, which can lead to kidney failure. This article was contributed by: familydoctor.