Hansen's disease

Hansen's disease, also known as leprosy, is an infectious disease caused by infection by Mycobacterium leprae. The modern name of the disease is named for the discoverer of Mycobacterium leprae, G. A. Hansen. Sufferers from Hansen's disease have generally been called lepers, although term is falling into disuse both from the diminishing number of leprosy patients and from pressure to avoid the demeaning connotations of the term.

Leprosy used to be incurable, and severely disfiguring. Lepers were shunned and sequestered in leper colonies. Now known as Hansen's disease, leprosy is easily curable by multidrug antibiotic therapy.

The main challenges for Hansen's disease elimination efforts are to reach populations that have not yet received multidrug therapy services, improve detection of the disease, and provide patients with high-quality services and free drugs.

Clinical Features

This chronic infectious disease usually affects the skin and peripheral nerves but has a wide range of possible clinical manifestations. Patients are classified as having paucibacillary or multibacillary Hansen's disease. Paucibacillary Hansen's disease is milder and characterized by one or more hypopigmented skin macules. Multibacillary Hansen's disease is associated with symmetric skin lesions, nodules, plaques, thickened dermis, and frequent involvement of the nasal mucosa resulting in nasal congestion and epistaxis.

Etiologic Agent

The cause of this disease is a bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae, that multiplies very slowly and mainly affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. The organism has never been grown in bacteriologic media or cell culture, but has been grown in mouse foot pads. It is related to M. tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes tuberculosis.

Incidence

In 1999, the world incidence of Hansen's disease was estimated to be 640,000; and in 2000, 738,284 cases were identified. In 1999, 108 cases occurred in the United States. In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed 91 countries in which Hansen's disease is endemic, with India, Myanmar, and Nepal having 70% of cases.

Sequelae

Worldwide, 1-2 million persons are permanently disabled as a result of Hansen's disease. However, persons receiving antibiotic treatment or having completed treatment are considered free of active infection.

Transmission

Although the mode of transmission of Hansen's disease remains uncertain, most investigators think that M. leprae is usually spread from person to person in respiratory droplets. What is known is that the transmission rate is very low.

Risk Groups

Close contacts with patients with untreated, active, predominantly multibacillary disease, and persons living in countries with highly endemic disease.

Surveillance

Hansen's disease is nationally notifiable in the United States.

Trends

Incidence/prevalence has remained relatively stable in the United States. There are decreasing numbers of cases worldwide, with pockets of high prevalence in certain countries.

Opportunities

Hansen's disease in the Western Pacific is a particular problem and opportunities exist for participation in Hansen's disease elimination activities in endemic-disease countries, and in the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Asylums

There are still a few "leper colonies" around the world. In the United States on the tiny island of Molokai in the Hawaiian chain is the oldest leper colony in America. In 2001, government-run leper colonies in Japan came under judicial scrutiny, leading to the determination that the Japanese government had mistreated the patients. Leper colonies are located in India and the Philippines, with high likelihood there are many more in many more countries.

History

Hansen's disease has been recognized as a problem since the begining of recorded history. The Bible contains many references to "leprosy", which is probably not the disease we call leprosy today. Under ancient Israelite law, the priests were required to be able to diagnose leprosy. The Israelites also usedd quarantine to prevent its spread. Lepers have frequently lived on the edge of society.

External link

• CDC Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases: Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)