TY - CHAP M1 - Book, Section TI - LEPROSY A1 - Gelber, Robert H. A2 - Kasper, Dennis L. A2 - Fauci, Anthony S. Y1 - 2017 N1 - T2 - Harrison's Infectious Diseases, 3e 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. SN - PB - McGraw-Hill Education CY - New York, NY Y2 - 2024/04/18 UR - accessbiomedicalscience.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1141409601 ER -