RT Book, Section
A1 Gelber, Robert H.
A2 Kasper, Dennis L.
A2 Fauci, Anthony S.
SR Print(0)
ID 1141409601
T1 LEPROSY
T2 Harrison's Infectious Diseases, 3e
YR 2017
FD 2017
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781259835971
LK accessbiomedicalscience.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1141409601
RD 2024/04/19
AB Leprosy,  first  described  in  ancient  Indian  texts  from  the  sixth  century  b.c.,  is  a  nonfatal,  chronic  infectious  disease  caused  by  Mycobacterium  leprae,  the  clinical  manifestations  of  which  are  largely  confined  to  the  skin,  peripheral  nervous  system,  upper  respiratory  tract,  eyes,  and  testes.  The  unique  tropism  of  M.  leprae  for  peripheral  nerves  (from  large  nerve  trunks  to  microscopic  dermal  nerves)  and  certain  immunologically  mediated  reactional  states  are  the  major  causes  of  morbidity  in  leprosy.  The  propensity  of  the  disease,  when  untreated,  to  result  in  characteristic  deformities  and  the  recognition  in  most  cultures  that  the  disease  is  communicable  from  person  to  person  have  resulted  historically  in  a  profound  social  stigma.  Today,  with  early  diagnosis  and  the  institution  of  appropriate  and  effective  antimicrobial  therapy,  patients  can  lead  productive  lives  in  the  community,  and  deformities  and  other  visible  manifestations  can  largely  be  prevented.