Does anyone (doctors mostly) know what Mycobacterium lepromatosis means?
I know Mycobacterium leprae the causative organism of Hansen’s disease (Leprosy to you). Infection is by nasal mucus droplets to those who are in prolonged contact with people with active disease. The disease is now rare in the develop world, but is still a problem in Africa, Central & South America and Asia. The disease has a long incubation period of 3 to 5 years. It causes extensive destruction of the body such as loss of fingers, toes, etc. All these are due to nerve damage not caused directly by the bacteria, but as a result of the reaction of the immune system to dead bacteria. There are two types of Hansen’s disease, the lepromatous and the tuberculoid type. In the lepromatous disease there is high levels of bacteria with widespread, progressive and severe damage. The damage is really due to loss of sensation over the affected areas so that burns and other injuries are neglected. In the tuberculoid type, immune reaction is reasonably good and the bacterial level is low and so th
