Leprosy Training Module for Medical Officers

Disability in Leprosy
Leprosy is associated with intense stigma because of the disabilities
and deformities that result from Leprosy.
Most of the disabilities that occur in Leprosy are
preventable. Therefore, it is very important to
prevent these disabilities from occurring.
DeFORMity : It is an alteration in the form, shape or appearance of a
part of the body, i.e., anatomical changes, for example, depressed
nose.
DisABILITY : It is deterioration in one’s ability or capacity, i.e.,
physiological change, for example, anaesthesia of hand.
Treatment of Leprosy as with that of any other infectious disease has
two main aims :
1. To destroy all the infecting organisms in the body of the patient.
2. To prevent and treat the complications that result directly or indirectly
from the disease.
Reactions and Nerve Damage are two most important complications
that directly result from Leprosy. Of these, nerve damage is far more
common than reactions, and it is also mostly responsible for the
deformities, disabilities and dehabilitation that many Leprosy affected
persons experience.
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