What is a leprosy reaction?
Reaction is the body’s response to the dead bacteria in the body. When patients begin taking MDT the bacteria are killed quite rapidly. Sometimes it takes years for the dead bacteria to be completely cleared from the body. During this time the body may react against these dead bacteria. This can cause pain and swelling in the skin and nerves and other parts of the body. Fever and muscle aches may also occur. The eyes could be red and painful. During reactions there is increased risk of damage to nerves in the eyes, hands and feet. Treating reaction quickly can prevent nerve damage. Up to half of all people with leprosy have reactions. A reaction does not mean the disease is getting worse or that the medication has stopped working. It is not an allergic reaction to the medication. It means that the body is reacting or fighting against the dead bacteria. These bacteria may have been killed by the body’s resistance to the bacteria or by the medication. This is why some persons develop rea
