Contents:
- Medical Video: 2013-08-15 (P1of3) Gratitude Toward the Whole Universe
- What's the difference between tinea versicolor and leprosy?
- What are the characteristics of leprosy?
- How is leprosy treated?
Medical Video: 2013-08-15 (P1of3) Gratitude Toward the Whole Universe
White patches on the skin are often regarded as phlegm and underestimated by most people. In fact, it could be white spots on the skin instead of phlegm, but a characteristic of leprosy. If left unchecked, the skin disease can lead to blindness and disability. Find out what are the characteristics of leprosy or initial symptoms so that the disease can be treated as early as possible.
What's the difference between tinea versicolor and leprosy?
Leprosy or also known as leprosy or mans hansen disease is a disease that attacks the skin, peripheral nervous system, mucous membranes in the upper respiratory tract, and eyes.
The nervous system that is attacked can cause someone who has this disease to numb (numb). Leprosy is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium leprae which takes 6 months to 40 years to develop in the body. The characteristics of leprosy can appear after the bacteria infects the body of people who have leprosy for two to ten years.
Why do people often think that leprosy is just a phlegm? Because of these two skin diseases both cause white patches on the skin. The difference is, someone who has a phlegm will feel itchy and reddish on the edges of the spots. Meanwhile, leprosy will not feel itchy, instead it will feel numb.
What are the characteristics of leprosy?
Leprosy consists of two types, namely dry leprosy or basiler pausi (PB) and wet or multi basiler leprosy (MB). Symptoms of white spots like phlegm are usually the characteristics of dry leprosy. While the characteristics of wet leprosy are more like ringworm, namely reddish patches and accompanied by thickening of the skin.
The most basic characteristic of leprosy is lack of feeling (hypoesthesia) or complete numbness (anesthesia) in the symptoms that appear. This is what causes lepers if they are left alone to experience disability because their nerves are damaged so they don't feel pain even though their fingers break.
Although it used to be a feared disease, leprosy is currently a disease that is easily treated. Ironically, until now some regions in Indonesia are still considered as endemic areas of leprosy by the World Health Organization or WHO. Then, what are the symptoms or characteristics of leprosy to watch out for?
- Numbness, can not feel the change in temperature to lose the sensation of touch and pain in the skin.
- Joint pain.
- Weight loss.
- Enlargement of peripheral nerves, usually around the elbows and knees.
- Change of shape on face.
- Blisters or rashes.
- A boil appears but does not hurt.
- Hair loss.
- Nasal congestion or nosebleeds occur.
- Wounds appear but don't hurt.
- Eye damage. The eyes become dry and rarely blink, usually felt before large ulcers appear.
- Muscle weakness or paralysis.
- Loss of fingers.
How is leprosy treated?
People who have been diagnosed with leprosy will usually be given a combination of antibiotics as a treatment step for six months to two years. Treatment of leprosy itself must be based on the type of leprosy to determine the type, antibiotic dose, and duration of treatment.
Surgery is generally done as a follow-up process after antibiotic treatment. The objectives of the surgical procedure for lepers are:
- Normalize damaged nerve function
- Improve the body shape of a person with disabilities
- Returns bodily functions
The risk of leprosy complications can occur depending on how quickly the disease is diagnosed and treated effectively. Some complications that might occur if late leprosy is treated are:
- Permanent nerve damage
- Muscles weaken
- Progressive disability. Examples of loss of eyebrows, defects in the toes, hands and nose
