Mycobacterium leprae and Leprosy: A Compendium

Leprosy or the Hansen disease is a chronic infectious disease which is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily involves the skin, peripheral nerves, eyes, and the respiratory tract. Even though it is treatable, it is a publicly transmitted infection, health issue in the third world countries such as India, Brazil and Indonesia. The disease is transmitted by means of long-term contact with untreated individuals and can damage nerves and result in disability when not treated early, and is caused by contact with untreated people. This review discusses the background history, world and regional distribution, bacteriology and the genetic composition of M.leprae. It further talks about the spectrum of the disease, diagnosis and immune responses that identify disease severity. Multidrug therapy (MDT) is the primary mode of treatment, which cures patients and is successful preventing transmission. Nonetheless, leprosy control is still faced with social stigma and late diagnosis efforts, especially in India. The early detection, rehabilitation, and community awareness should be strengthened cure all the leprosy left and assist the affected persons to be reintegrated into society.