Leprosy in China
Introduction
Leprosy, also know as Hansen’s disease, is a chronic disease caused Mycobacterium leprae. Mycobacterium leprae was discovered in 1873 by Aramauer Hansen and was identified as the first bacterium to cause a human disease. Leprosy dates back to biblical times, with the first recording of leprosy in 600 BC. There are even accounts of leprosy cases in the oldest human civilizations. Leprosy has since affected every continent. Even to this day, leprosy is present. With the availability of antibiotics and vaccinations, the number of reported cases has dramatically decreased. However, the disease still very well present. As of 2006, the World Health Organization reported 219,826 cases.
Description of [insert name of disease]
Leprosy is an infection of the skin, peripheral nerves, mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, and eyes. If it is not treated, it leads to gradual and permanent nerve damage. Mycobacterium leprae is spread in the repiratory tract and accumulates in body extremities. The bacterium infects Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system. Infected Schwann cells can no longer produce myelin and as a result, nerves are damaged and there is sensory loss.
Symptoms
Symptoms of leprosy include skin lesions, enlarged peripheral nerves, sensory loss, disfigurations, and disabilities. Symptoms can take up to twenty years to appear. Depending on a person’s immune system and response to bacterial infection, leprosy can take on many forms. Severe cases are due to a weak response of the immune system to the infection, as opposed to milder cases in which immune responses are more effective. Milder cases can be cured, but can also worsen into a more serious form of leprosy. Leprosy is curable. If treated in early stages, permanent damage can be avoided. Antibiotics are available and are very effective to target the bacterium causing the disease.
Treatment
Since the discovery of Mycobacterium leprae in 1873, thorough research on the microbe was done to come up with a solution. Finally, in the 1940’s, treatment for the disease was found in the form of the dapsone drug. However, within a span of twenty years, Mycobacterium leprae developed a resistance to the drug and this resistance spread. In 1981, a breakthrough was made when the World Health Organization (WHO) enacted a multidrug therapy, or MDT, which consists of the drugs dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine. MDT was successful in killing the pathogen and has now become accepted as the cure to leprosy. Since 1995, MDT has been made available and has been distributed for free by WHO.
Description of the microbe
Include a link if there is an existing microbewiki page. Ex. Salmonella typhi
Transmission of disease
How is it transmitted? Is there a vector (animal/insect)?
Cell wall
Why is this disease a problem in [name of country]
Do lifestyle/environment/economics/political issues play a role?
What is being done to address this problem
Include anything being done by the local government or groups as well as efforts by non-local groups.
What else could be done to address this problem
Are there solutions that could be successful but haven't been implemented due to political or economic reasons? Are there successful efforts in other countries? Are there reasons why these efforts may or may not be successful in the country you've focused on? etc. etc.
References
Edited by [insert your names here!], students of Rachel Larsen
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