What's leprosy & how does indeed a person get
leprosy?
Leprosy is a slowly developing, progressive
infectious disease triggered by Mycobacterium leprae or M. lepromatosis
bacteria and clinically characterized by damage to the skin(disfiguring skin
sores), hypopigmented patches/lesions, thickened nerves, disturbed peripheral
nervous system, partial/total loss of sensation, and nerve damage or
deformities of the limbs. The disease has its different names like Leontiasis,
Elephantiasis Graecorum, Hansen's disease in medico-terms and “Kushta” is another name, concerned to Ayurvedic
texts. A Norwegian doctor named Gerhard
Armauer Hansen got uncovered bacterium M. lepra first of all in 1873 then the
name of this disease has become Hansen's disease.
It has been considered a
significant social stigma for centuries. This is the reason only why the leprosy sufferer is deported from the family and/or society and
still poses a major burning problem in developing countries. Because of social stigma, the
patient hides their disease in the primary stage. Due to leprosy, sometimes the job gets to run away or the possibility of job reduces. Some
people are constrained to beg due to job loss. They have to do niggling work
like begging for their living. It really is found in persons of low-quality
lifestyle, unhygienic practices, insufficient health education, credited to
poverty. It influences all age ranges, races, and sex. Males tend to be more
influenced than female because of higher susceptibility and greater exposure in
males compared to female. Its incubation period is
nearly known as between 9 months to 30-40 years. It really is recognized due to
deformity and ugliness.
What are the symptoms and signs of leprosy?
With regards to the symptoms only, there may be
possible a delay in discovering it because the symptoms of an early stage of
leprosy mimic syphilis, tetanus, or leptospirosis.
Some symptoms and signs of leprosy will be the
next -
Numbness - Mostly upper and lower limbs are
affected/loss of feeling in the hands and legs.
Skin, eyes,
testes damages.
Loss of
heat sensation, touch sensation, pin or needle piercing sensations.
Joints pain.
Upper Respiratory Tract troubles.
Loss of digits, nose, toes, etc, weight loss, and
muscular weakness.
Loss of body hair (eyebrows, and eyelashes).
Hypopigmented macules, blisters, rashes, and/or
ulcer formation on the skin.
What are the risk factors for leprosy?
Who live in overcrowding and endemic areas of
leprosy.
It is found in persons of low socio-economic
group.
Residing in sub-standard housing with low
personal hygiene and usage of common clothing.
Constant physical contact with infected people.
Insufficient health education.
More common in warm and humid climate.
People with 'O'
blood group and 75% of cases above 20-25 years of age.
What Are the Types of Leprosy?
Leprosy may also be classified into -
A. Lepromatous leprosy - Skin, nerves, and mucosa are highly infectious scheduled to poor
immunity of the patient. In this particular, mycobacterium proliferates widely
and produce erythematous skin lesions in the form of small macules.
B. Non-lepromatous leprosy -
* Tuberculoid leprosy - Tuberculoid leprosy is seen either as a solitary skin lesions or less than 4-5 skin lesions, which are usually
erythematous macules. It is often found in a stable form that will not convert
into borderline and tends to heal spontaneously.
* Maculo-anaesthetic leprosy -In this kind of leprosy, large, flat, and hypopigmented macules in
different size and numbers with anesthetic nerve participation is found.
* Polyneurotic leprosy - Additionally it is called Pure polyneuritic leprosy. In this type of
leprosy, entails peripheral nerves only. Initially nodules are developed and
later they take the condition of the necrosis and abscesses.
C. Borderline leprosy - Borderline leprosy comes in the form of the proper execution of red,
abnormal plaques with numerous dimorphic skin lesions like macules, papules,
and nodules that includes borderline
tuberculoid (BT), borderline borderline (BB), and borderline lepromatous (BL)
leprosy.
D. Intermediate leprosy - It really
is the mildest form of leprosy, in which very few macules
without loss of sensation are found. Patients with strong immunity
are able to get rid of the disease themselves.
How Is Leprosy Diagnosed?
Diagnostic investigations of leprosy - Mostly
doctors conduct a bacteriological examination to identify and
confirm the disease and that are following -
Skin biopsy test/skin scraping/skin smear test
for Acid fast bacillus.
Nasal smear test.
Lepromin skin test.
What are the complications of leprosy?
Complications of leprosy can include the next -
Eye damage - Blindness/glaucoma, the eyes become
dry.
Deformities - Permanent damage of upper and lower
limbs.
Disfiguration in face affected cases.
Disfigurement of the fingers and toes.
Inflammation - skin, peripheral nerves, eyes,
lymph nodes, joints, and testes.
Erectile dysfunction/Impotence and infertility.
Loss of nose - Permanent damage to the nose.
Loss of eyebrows.
Muscular weakness.
Sensory loss - Loss of touch or piercing
sensation due to nerve damage.
Sores that are infected.
What's the prognosis of leprosy?
In the case of Leprosy, prognosis may varies that always
depended upon the stage of the disease, earlier diagnosis, and prompt
treatment. If the disease is diagnosed early on then its prognosis is good
because an earlier diagnosis and treatment prevent tissue/nerve damage and
deformities of the limbs.
There is no optimistic success even after treatment in late stage cases. Alongside, different types of complications come up that affects the lifestyle of the patient badly. An issue of the nerves damage by means of lack of sensation in the skin, skin damage and depigmentation generally persist for lifetime. Either way, prognosis is considered weak, bad, and poor but a specialty of the disease is that no one dies out of this.
There is no optimistic success even after treatment in late stage cases. Alongside, different types of complications come up that affects the lifestyle of the patient badly. An issue of the nerves damage by means of lack of sensation in the skin, skin damage and depigmentation generally persist for lifetime. Either way, prognosis is considered weak, bad, and poor but a specialty of the disease is that no one dies out of this.
Some classical Ayurvedic formulations that are
very advantageous in Leprosy cases -
Pancha tikta ghrit guggulu.
Khadirarishta.
Dashmoolarishta.
Rasamanikya.
Panchanimba Churna.
Mahatiktaka Ghrita.
Navakakashaya.
Gandhaka Rasayana.
Some oils used in the condition of Leprosy -
Chaulmoogra oil, Somaraji oil, Parantyadi oil, Triphaladi oil, Gurjun oil/Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Cedar essential oil, Pennyroyal essential oil.
Chaulmoogra oil, Somaraji oil, Parantyadi oil, Triphaladi oil, Gurjun oil/Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Cedar essential oil, Pennyroyal essential oil.
Diet, Prevention Tips, & Other Regimen
There is absolutely no any restriction or
limitation for foods for leprosy sufferers but only take a well balanced and
healthy diet that should be easily digestible.
Vitamin A abundant foodstuffs should be intaken
because it can improves skin conditions. Because of this, carrot, beetroot,
broccoli, cabbage, spinach, lettuce, apricot, cantaloupe etc. should be
consumed.
Eggs, cheese, milk, fish, mutton etc. are a
proper source of Vitamin B-complex and incredibly helpful to curing
leprosy-related symptoms.
To enhance the immunity power, include vitamin C
rich fruits (orange, lime, lemon, mosambi, strawberry, guava etc.) in what you
eat. Apart from these, eat the mushroom, catfish, tuna fish, salmon fish, and
cod liver oil because they're stuffed with vitamin D supplement.
Another vitamin named Vitamin E can be beneficial for leprosy sufferers. Some of the ingredients are sunflower seeds, green mustard, papaya, turnips, asparagus etc. which are a great way to obtain vitamin E.
Another vitamin named Vitamin E can be beneficial for leprosy sufferers. Some of the ingredients are sunflower seeds, green mustard, papaya, turnips, asparagus etc. which are a great way to obtain vitamin E.
Omega-3 fatty acids should be intaken under the
guidance of the physician. Although, Omega-3 fatty acids are considered safe
and useful in the case of leprosy patients and within bleeding disorders, diabetes mellitus is contraindicated.
Don't stop your antileprotic medicines and also
go to the dermatologist for a regular check-up.
Save your self from trauma or injuries by means
of burns, scalds, cuts etc. Always be extra cautious especially about your
upper and lower extremities otherwise, you can face major harm in near future.
For safety purpose, wear cloth-shoes if you have problems with numbness in your
lower extremities.
As a precaution, cover your mouth with a
handkerchief when sneezing or coughing to prevent droplet infection.
Stay far from close contact with leprosy
sufferers to avoid an infection.
A suspected individual with leprosy, go for
prompt medical check-up for diagnosis and treatment, if you don't want
permanent nerve damage or physical disfiguration.
Leprosy is a curable disease with proper
medication, so do not contemplate it a curse of God. A normal life can be put in with antileprotic treatment.
It is vital to know that leprosy is no longer contagious with proper and immediate medication. But an
unattended case may deliver severe complications like skin, eyes, upper and
lower limbs and nerve damages.
Surgical operations for Leprotic deformities
In some cases, the surgical procedure is adopted to
prevent further deterioration and improve motor function which is known as a
reconstructive surgery in medical science.
Some surgical process is being explained below -
Tarsorrhaphy - It is a surgical method in which
the eyelids are sutured for giving a narrow shape of the eyelid opening.
Canthoplasty - It is also a surgical restoration
process of the canthus that reduces sagging of the eyelids.
Plastic or Cosmetic surgery of the nose -Some leprotic sufferers may lose their nose due to infection, resulting in
deterioration of nasal cartilage. In such cases, plastic surgery may be
required to reconstruct the nose.
Tissue transplantation can be followed in some of
the cases of heel sores.
Surgical removal of breast tissue on account of
gynecomastia.
Sometimes
the surgery has to be adapted to drain pus accumulation from the wound.
A surgical
amputation of affected part/s of the body may be required in some of the cases.
Allopathic Treatment of leprosy
Treatment of leprosy includes diverse
combinations of dapsone, clofazimine, and rifampicin which exert the strong
inhibitory impact on the growth of M.leprae. The World Health Organization
distributes anti leprotic medicines to the needy at no cost to control leprosy which is known as MDT (multidrug therapy). MDT is
a combination therapy in which different types of drugs used to take care of
Leprosy and these drugs are staying effective, impressive, and safe if used
under the supervision of the doctor. The relapse rate is surprisingly low with
MDT and the level of resistance does not get to see. The WHO recommended
three types of medicines (rifampicin, clofazimine, and dapsone) has been
used since 1982 under the MDT.
Actually, Dapsone is a sulphonamide drug which is
bacteriostatic and is drugs of choice for the treating of all kinds of leprosy.
Mucosal lesions, Naso-oral nodules, infiltration, ulcerations etc. disappear
and secondary infections subside. Invasion of the peripheral nerves in all
likelihood takes place in every condition of leprosy, but it is dominant in the
cases of tuberculoid leprosy is respond well. Medication dosage is preferred as
10-100 mg per day depending on body weight. It's miles contraindicated in the
cases of hypersensitivity to sulphonamides. Side effects of dapsone are
following -
Nausea/vomiting, hemolysis, anorexia, headache, nervousness, sleeplessness, blurred vision, erythema nodosum leprosum etc. In the kids and old individuals, a reduced dose may be necessary and at some point of being pregnant and during breastfeeding, always used with caution.
Nausea/vomiting, hemolysis, anorexia, headache, nervousness, sleeplessness, blurred vision, erythema nodosum leprosum etc. In the kids and old individuals, a reduced dose may be necessary and at some point of being pregnant and during breastfeeding, always used with caution.
Clofazimine - It is often effective in patients
intolerant or resistant to other antileprosy drugs. It goes about or draws up an anti-inflammatory
impact when given in proper dose and prevents the development of erythema
nodosum. Medication dose advocated 300 mg spread over weekly. In sulphonamide
resistance conditions, 600 mg every week preferably after foods. In lepra
reactions 200 mg daily for three weeks or as required. It is contraindicated in
the condition of the first trimester of pregnancy. Black pigmentation of the
skin, pruritus, dry skin, gastrointestinal upsets like stomachache, loose
motions etc. will be the side effects of this drug.
Rifampicin - It can be used in the medication of
leprosy and treatment with it will involve various combinations of antileprotic
drugs. It's far fairly bactericidal to M. leprae and 600 mg need to accept once
a month under the guidance of the doctor or as required.
Nausea, vomiting, skin rash, kidney diseases,
liver disorders etc. will be the side effects of rifampicin. Stools, urine,
saliva, sweat, and tears may be discolored orange-red. It should not be given
to leprosy sufferers who've experienced drug-induced jaundice.
Ayurvedic herbs used in Leprosy
Mandukaparni/Gota kola - Cantella Asiatica
Vidanga - False black pepper - Embelia ribes
Chandan - Sandal wood - Santalum album
Apamarga/Latjira - Prickly Chaff Flower - Achyranthes aspera
Kaalmegh/Green chirayta - Andrographis paniculata
Semal - Silk Cotton Tree - Bombax ceiba
Ashwagandha - Indian ginseng - Withania somnifera
Mahendi - Henna - Lawsonia inermis
Kaju - Cashew - Anacardium occidentale.
Harjora - Veld grape - Cissus quadrangularis.
Til - Sesame - Sesamum indicum.
Bans - Bamboo - Bambusa arundinaceae.
Ritha - Indian Soapberry - Sapindus mukorossi.
Gulbel/Giloy - Tinospora cordifolia.
Gulbel/Giloy - Tinospora cordifolia.
Siris Tree - Flea tree - Albizia lebbeck.
Ati bala - Indian mallow - Abutilon indicum.
Karanja - Indian beech - Pongamia glabra.
Gular - Indian fig tree - Ficus racemosa.
Malkangani - Black oil plant - Celastrus paniculatus.
Chameli - Jasmine - Jasminum grandiflorum.
Chaulmugra - Hydnocarpus pentandra.
Amaltas - Indian laburnum - Cassia fistula
Aparajita - Asian pigeonwings - Clitoria ternatea
Rubber bush/apple of Sodom -
Calotropis procera.
Bhengra - False daisy - Eclipta alba.
Kasamarda - Coffee weed/septicweed - Senna occidentalis.
Kattha - Cutch Tree - Acacia catechu.
Kuth/Shahruta - Saussurea costus.
Arjuna - Arjun tree/Kawa - Terminalia arjuna.
Haritaki/Harada - Terminalia chebula.
Jimsonweed - Thorn Apple - Datura stramonium.
Neelini - True Indigo - Indigofera tinctoria.
Vibhitaki/Baheda - Terminalia bellarica.
Adusa - Malabar Nut - Adhatoda vasica.
Tadi - Toddy palm/Palmyra Palm - Borassus flabellifer.
Blackjack - Beggar Tick - Bidens pilosa.
Jatamansi - Spikenard - Nardostachys jatamansi.
Janglipudina - Goatweed - Ageratum conyzoides.
Gubinge - Billygoat Plum/Kakadu Plum - Terminalia ferdinandiana.
Kamala - Kumkum tree - Mallotus
philippensis.
Vanapatola/Tiktapatola - Trichosanthes lobata.
Anantamula - Indian Sarsaparilla - Hemidesmus indicus.
Jangli badam - Indian-almond - Terminalia catappa.
Hemp - Marijuana - Cannabis sativa.
Putkanda - Ox knee - Achyranthes bidentata.
Safed aak - Crown Flower - Calotropis gigantea.
Water Plantain/Common water-plantain - Alisma plantago-aquatica.
Bakuchi/Babchi - Psoralia corylifolia.
Kanta chaulai - Prickly Amaranth - Amaranthus spinosus.
Ratanjoti - Bellyache Bush - Jatropha gossypifolia.
Kerala - Bitter gourd - Momordica charantia
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WRITTEN BY RAJESH KUMAR
REFERENCES
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