In leprosy – colloquially called leprosy – (thesaurus synonyms: Eyelid leprosy; Leprosy with meningitis; Low-bacterial leprosy; Low-bacterial leprosy; Borderline leprosy; Borderline leprosy [BB leprosy]; Borderline lepromatous leprosy; Borderline lepromatous leprosy [BL leprosy]; Borderline lepromatous leprosy; Borderline tuberculoid leprosy; Borderline tuberculoid leprosy [TT leprosy]; Borderline tuberculoid leprosy; Elephantiasis graecorum; Hansen’s disease; Hansen’s mycobacteriosis; skin leprosy; skin leprosy; indeterminate; indeterminate leprosy [I leprosy]; leprosy dimorpha; leprosy indeterminata; leprosy interpolaris; Leprosy lazarina; Leprosy lepromatosa; Leprosy mixta; Leprosy nervosa; Leprosy tuberculoides; Leprom; Lepromatous leprosy; Lepromatous leprosy [LL leprosy]; Lepromatous leprosy; Misel’s disease. ; Hansen’s disease; phoenicius disease; nodular leprosy; polar malignant leprosy; polar benign leprosy; polar malignant leprosy; polar benign leprosy; tuberculoid leprosy; tuberculoid leprosy [TT leprosy]; tuberculoid leprosy; uncharacteristic leprosy; ICD-10-GM A30. -; leprosy [leprosy]) is a chronic infectious disease that occurs in the tropics and subtropics. It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.
Occurrence: The pathogen occurs worldwide. The disease is most common in South Asia (especially in India), Southeast Asia (especially in Indonesia), Africa and South America (especially in Brazil).
Transmission of the pathogen (infection route) occurs almost exclusively via nasal secretions.
Human-to-human transmission: Yes. As a rule, intensive contact with a diseased person is necessary.
The incubation period (time from infection to outbreak of the disease) is usually between 9 months to 20 years, on average between 2 and 4 years.
According to the ICD-10-GM, leprosy can be divided into the following forms:
- Indeterminate leprosy (ICD-10-GM A30.0) – uncharacteristic skin lesions as an early form of leprosy.
- Tuberculoid leprosy (“nerve leprosy”; ICD-10-GM A30.1) – characterized by nerve damage; good chance of cure
- Borderline tuberculoid leprosy (ICD-10-GM A30.2), borderline leprosy (ICD-10-GM A30.3), borderline lepromatous leprosy (ICD-10-GM A30.4) – intermediate forms.
- Lepromatous leprosy (“nodular leprosy”; ICD-10-GM A30.5) – characterized by skin nodules; overall malignant course.
- Other forms of leprosy (ICD-10-GM A30.8).
It is assumed about 250,000 new cases annually (worldwide). In Germany, only occasionally imported cases of leprosy occur. In 2011, 2 cases of leprosy were recorded.
Course and prognosis: If the disease is diagnosed and treated early, the prognosis is good.
In Germany, direct or indirect detection of the causative agent is reportable by name under the Infection Protection Act (IfSG) if the evidence indicates acute infection.
