The characteristic of leprosy is like tinea versicolor which feels numb and thick

The characteristics of leprosy

Leprosy is a disease that affects not only the skin, but also the peripheral nervous system or mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract and eyes. Therefore, the symptoms you feel do not only affect the skin but also other parts of the body.

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 bacteria have infected the body of a person who has leprosy for two to ten years.

Although it used to be a dreaded disease, now leprosy is classified as a disease that is easily treated. Ironically, until now several regions in Indonesia are still considered as endemic areas for leprosy by the World Health Organization WHO.

Then, what are the symptoms or characteristics of leprosy that should be watched out for?

The appearance of patches on the skin

One of the characteristics that will be visible is the appearance of patches on the skin. These patches can appear in different shapes and colors, depending on the type of leprosy.

This disease is actually divided into two types, namely bacillary popei (PB) and multi bacillary (MB).

In bacillary pope disease, a white patch is a prominent feature. Whereas in multi-bacillary disease, the spots appear reddish and accompanied by thickening of the skin.

The appearance of white spots in PB leprosy is often ignored and is often considered a skin disease. In fact, there are differences between the two.

If a person has tinea versicolor, then he will feel itching and appear reddish color on the edge of the spots. While the white patches in leprosy do not feel itchy, they are numb.

Reduced sense of touch

The nervous system that is attacked can cause a person who has this disease to feel numb (numb). These symptoms can occur gradually, initially making you feel less feeling (hypesthesia) or completely numb.

This is what makes lepers suffer from disabilities. Because if left untreated, these damaged nerves will not feel pain even if their fingers are cut off.

Other symptoms of leprosy

Some of the signs and symptoms of leprosy that affect the skin include:

thickened, stiff, or dry skin,
the appearance of painless boils on the soles of the feet,
painless swelling or lumps on the face or earlobe,
hair loss, including eyebrows and eyelashes,
blisters or rash, as well
a wound appeared, but it didn't hurt.

The impact on nerves is:

weakness or paralysis of muscles, especially in the hands and feet,
enlargement of the peripheral nerves, especially around the elbows, knees, and sides of the neck,
eye problems that can lead to blindness, as well
the eyes become dry and blink less often, usually before an ulcer develops.

Other signs include:

joint pain,
weight loss,
deformity of the face,
hair loss,
nasal congestion or nosebleeds occur, as well
loss of fingers.

How is leprosy treated?

People diagnosed with this disease will usually be given a combination of antibiotics as a treatment step for six months to two years. Leprosy treatment itself must be based on the type of leprosy to determine the type, antibiotic dose and duration of treatment.

Surgery is generally performed as a follow-up process after antibiotic treatment. The objectives of the surgical procedure for people with leprosy are:

normalizes the function of damaged nerves,
improve the body shape of people with disabilities, and
restores limb function.

The risk of leprosy complications can occur depending on how quickly the disease is diagnosed and treated effectively. Some of the complications that may occur if leprosy is treated late are:

permanent nerve damage,
weakened muscles, as well
progressive defects, such as loss of eyebrows, defects of the toes, hands and nose.

In order not to cause these complications, it's a good idea to go to a dermatologist immediately if you start feeling some of the symptoms above. Don't hesitate to ask questions if there are certain symptoms that worry you.