Leprosy prevention and treatment knowledge and Q&A

(en.nhfpc.gov.cn)

Updated: 2014-07-15

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease spread mainly through respiratory inhalation of infectious droplets and long-term skin contact. The vast majority of people have leprosy immunity with a low disease attack rate.

Q: How is leprosy spread?

A: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by leprosy bacillus that mainly attacks skin, peripheral nerves, and upper respiratory tract mucous membrane and eyes. It is spread by close skin contact or respiratory droplets. The source of infection is mostly untreated multi-bacterial leprosy patients. More than 95 percent of people have immunity against leprosy, so even if they are infected with leprosy bacillus, there’s a slim chance they will suffer from the disease.

Leprosy can be prevented and treated.

Q: How’s the leprosy situation at the moment?

A: According to the World Health Organization, there were 232,857 cases worldwide in 2012, mainly distributed in India, Brazil and Indonesia. In recent years, there have been more than 1,000 cases reported every year in China’s provinces. There were 1,206 new patients in 2012.

How can you prevent leprosy?

A: Wear a respirator when having close contact with active leprosy patients, wash hands afterwards, pay attention to personal hygiene, strengthen nutrition, and improve body immunity

Early symptoms of leprosy are light or red skin spots and numbing sensations.

What are the major leprosy symptoms?

A: Leprosy has various clinical manifestations and early symptoms are light or red skin spots. Hypaesthesia or tactile sensation loss will occur if early detection and treatment fail to intervene. The disease will ultimately lead to lagophthalmos, slanting mouth, claw hand and planta pedis ulcer.

Go to professional institutes if you experience leprosy symptoms.

Q: Where should one go if suffering from suspected leprosy symptoms?

A: One should immediately go to a skin disease or leprosy prevention and treatment institutes for examination and treatment or contact the local disease prevention and control center when exhibiting leprosy symptoms.

China implements a free leprosy diagnosis and treatment policy.

Q: What are the national leprosy diagnosis and treatment policies?

A: In 2004, central finances brought leprosy prevention and treatment into the public health project, and governments at all levels gave stable funds. At the moment, China carries out free leprosy diagnosis and treatment. Governments at various levels also award reports of leprosy patients to encourage early detection, and central finance offers subsidies. In addition, civil affairs departments also provide necessary medical and living assistance for leprosy patients.