Hansen’s disease (leprosy) was one of the most common ailments a few decades ago, but its prevalence has declined significantly in recent times, thanks to the advancement in health sciences. Around 208,000 people suffer from the condition globally, and around a hundred are diagnosed every year in our country. Hansen’s disease is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae. Read on to learn more about its types, signs, causes, and treatments.

Types
The three primary types of leprosy are described here:

• Tuberculoid leprosy
  Tuberculoid leprosy is also called paucibacillary leprosy. Individuals with this type suffer from mild symptoms with only a few sores.
• Lepromatous leprosy
  Lepromatous leprosy is also called multibacillary leprosy. Those with this type develop widespread sores and lesions in organs, nerves, and the skin. It is more contagious and weakens the patient’s immune system.
• Borderline leprosy
  Also known as dimorphous leprosy, borderline leprosy combines the symptoms of tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy.

Symptoms
People who have Hansen’s disease or leprosy experience various symptoms. The most common discomforts include:

• Muscle weakness
• Painless burns or wounds on the feet and hands
• Tingling or numbness in the legs, arms, hands, and feet
• Red skin patches or hypopigmentation
• Skin patches with no sensations

Some patients may also experience the following signs:

• Nasal congestion
• Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes
• Stiff or thick skin
• Nosebleeds
• Enlarged peripheral nerves

When the disease reaches an advanced stage, the following may occur:

• Vision loss
• Paralysis
• Nose disfigurement
• Permanent damage to the feet and hands
• Chronic ulcers on the feet’s bottom, which may not heal
• Shortening of the toes and fingers

Those who experience these symptoms should visit a healthcare expert as soon as possible to determine the cause and begin treatment.

Causes
Hansen’s disease can affect all age groups, but it is more common in individuals between five and 15 and those above thirty. Coming in contact with a bacteria called Mycobacterium leprae is the primary cause of the disease. However, research has found that around 95% of those affected with this bacteria may not develop the signs as their bodies are strong enough to fight the infection.

It takes around three to five years for the signs to appear once an individual gets infected with Mycobacterium leprae. In some cases, the incubation period may be up to two decades.

Leprosy may spread from one individual to another, though it is not highly contagious. The real reason behind the transmission is unclear, but it is found that the bacteria may propagate through droplets from coughing and sneezing. One will not contract it by hugging, shaking hands, or sitting beside an infected person.

Diagnosis and management
A skin biopsy is used to diagnose the condition. In this procedure, the healthcare provider extracts a tiny sample of the affected skin tissue and sends it for analysis at the laboratory. If the disease is confirmed, doctors recommend various treatments to kill the harmful bacteria and control the symptoms, which may last for one to two years. Thanks to modern and advanced treatments, Hansen’s disease is curable if detected early.

Besides doctor-recommended treatments and therapies, specific home remedies can relieve leprosy symptoms. However, one should follow these tips only after consulting a healthcare provider:

• Oils
  Applying coconut, mustard, olive, or lavender oil on the skin helps manage the discomforts associated with leprosy. These oils have soothing properties that relieve muscle numbness and pain.
• Milk, honey, and turmeric
  Mixing honey and turmeric in warm milk and drinking it daily before bed can help manage the condition better. Curcumin, the key component in turmeric, is beneficial in relieving leprosy symptoms naturally.
• Avocado mask
  Patients can wear an avocado mask to tackle symptoms like lesions and bumps. This mask can be prepared by blending a ripe avocado (pitted and peeled) and one tablespoon each of honey and water.
• Carrots
  Carrots are one of the best foods to eat when suffering from Hansen’s disease. The vitamin A in them helps improve blood flow, reducing the tingles and numbness in the feet and hands. Vitamin A is also suitable for eye health.

Leprosy is no more a dreaded condition, and its occurrence is rare. Still, early diagnosis and intervention are essential to avoid its progression and the disabilities that occur during the late stages. To prevent the ailment, individuals should avoid contact with the droplets from the nose or mouth of an infected person because it is a possible route for mycobacterial transmission. The chance of getting the disease by inhaling the air surrounding a patient is very low.