Leprosy is a disease with most of its sufferers constituted in India. Let's quickly learn 7 facts about this disease and the social stigma and discrimination associated with it.
1. Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an acid fast rod shaped bacillus.
2. Leprosy is said to be originated in India around 2000 BC based on skeletal evidence. It spread to other parts of the world through Trade and War.
3. Around 2,50,000 people around the world suffer from Leprosy majority of which belong to India.
4. Leprosy can be treated with a three-drug therapy to kill the pathogens of the disease.
India is undergoing the world's largest leprosy eradication program named NLEP (National Leprosy Eradication Program).
5. Leprosy is not highly infectious but spreads from droplets, from nose and mouth by frequent contact with the people suffering from Leprosy.
6. Symptoms include pale skin lesions (maybe red in color), numbness in the body and reduced sensation.
7. While the disease is treatable and disability can be avoided if treated in early stages, many sufferers remain untreated because of the social stigma associated with the disease.
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