Information and Resources

Font Size

Leprosy

Important
It is possible that the main title of the report Leprosyis not the name you expected.

Synonyms

Hansen's Disease

Disorder Subdivisions

Indeterminate Leprosy
Borderline Tuberculoid Leprosy
Midborderline Leprosy
Borderline Lepromatous Leprosy
Lepromatous Leprosy
Tuberculoid Leprosy

General Discussion

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease of humans caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. For many years, it was considered a mysterious disorder associated with some type of curse, and persons with the disease were isolated and ostracized. Today, there is effective treatment and the disease can be cured. There is no longer any justification for isolating persons with leprosy.

The disease can affect the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes and some of the nerves that are located outside the central nervous system (peripheral nerves). These are primarily the nerves of the hands, feet, and eyes, and some of the nerves in the skin. In severe, untreated cases, loss of sensation, muscle paralysis of hands and feet, disfigurement, and blindness may occur.

Leprosy has traditionally been classified into two major types, tuberculoid and lepromatous. Patients with tuberculoid leprosy have limited disease and relatively few bacteria in the skin and nerves, while lepromatous patients have widespread disease and large numbers of bacteria. Tuberculoid leprosy is characterized by a few flat or slightly raised skin lesions of various sizes that are typically pale or slightly red, dry, hairless, and numb to touch (anesthetic). Lepromatous leprosy is at the other end of the spectrum, with a much more generalized disease, diffuse involvement of the skin, thickening of many peripheral nerves, and at times involvement of other organs, such as eyes, nose, testicles, and bone. There are also intermediate subtypes between these two extremes that are commonly known as borderline leprosy. The intermediate subtypes are borderline tuberculoid, midborderline, and borderline lepromatous leprosy. Borderline leprosy and the subtypes are characterized by more extensive disease than polar tuberculoid, with more numerous skin lesions and more nerve involvement, but not as widespread disease as in lepromatous leprosy. Indeterminate leprosy refers to a very early form of leprosy that consists of a single skin lesion with slightly diminished sensation to touch. It will usually progress to one of the major types of leprosy.

In 1982, the World Health Organization proposed a simplified classification that has only two classifications, Paucibacillary (PB) and Multibacillary (MB), leprosy. This classification is now used worldwide for treatment purposes. The older and somewhat more complex classification is still used in some programs, especially for clinical research studies. The Paucibacillary classification encompasses indeterminate, tuberculoid and borderline tuberculoid leprosy. The Multibacillary classification includes midborderline, borderline lepromatous and lepromatous leprosy.

Resources

American Leprosy Missions
1 ALM Way
Greenville
SC
29601
USA
Tel: (864)271-7040
Fax: (864)271-7062
800: (800)543-3135
amlep@leprosy.org
http://www.leprosy.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta
GA
30333
Tel: (404)639-3534
800: (800)311-3435
http://www.cdc.gov/netinfo.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/

National Hansen's Disease Programs
1770 Physicians Park Dr
Baton Rouge
LA
70816
USA
Tel: (225)756-3763
Fax: (225)756-3806
800: (800)642-2477
mtemplet@hrsa.gov
http://www.bphc.hrsa.gov/nhdp/

NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6610 Rockledge Drive
MSC 6612
Bethesda
MD
20892-6612
Tel: (301)496-5717
Fax: (301)402-3573
TDD: (800)877-8339
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/

Leonard Wood Memorial American Leprosy Foundation
11600 Nebel Street
Rockville
MD
20852
SUA
Tel: 3019841336
Fax: 3017700580
lwm-alf@erols.comJack Miller Center for Peripheral Neuropathy
University of Chicago
5841 S. Maryland Ave, MC 2030
Chicago
IL
60637
Tel: (773)702-5800
Fax: (773)702-5577
information-millercenter@neurology.bsd.uchicago.edu
http://millercenter.uchicago.edu

For a Complete Report:

This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html

The information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. It is provided for informational purposes only. NORD recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians.

It is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. Please check the Synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and Disorder Subdivision(s) covered by this report

This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.

For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email orphan@rarediseases.org

Last Updated: 4/8/2009
Copyright 1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2007, 2009 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.

WebMD Medical Reference from the National Organization of Rare Disorders

Last Updated: April 08, 2009

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.