What is Hansen’s disease (leprosy)?
Hansen’s disease (leprosy) is a chronic bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is characterized by the involvement primarily of skin as well as peripheral nerves and the mucosa (lining) of the upper airway. There are four major forms of the disease: Tuberculoid: one or a few well-demarcated, hypopigmented, and anesthetic (without feeling) skin lesions, frequently with active, spreading edges and a clearing center; peripheral nerve swelling or thickening also may occur Lepromatous: a number of reddened bumps that may occur on the face, hands and feet with skin lesions in a bilateral and symmetrical distribution that progress to thickening of the skin Borderline (dimorphous): skin lesions characteristic of both the tuberculoid and lepromatous forms Indeterminate: early lesions, usually hypopigmented bumps, without developed tuberculoid or lepromatous features Who gets Hansen’s disease? Anyone can get Hansen’s disease if they become infected with M. leprae. Most people
