Recognize and prevent species

Leprosy defects occur due to impaired nerve function in the eyes, hands, or feet. The disturbance that occurs can be mild to severe. Generally, severe leprosy defects occur as a result of acute damage to nerve function that can affect other organs. What do you need to do to prevent leprosy infection from causing permanent disability? The following is the review.

Overview of leprosy

Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae which causes skin sores to damage nerves and muscles. The nerve damage to the skin due to leprosy infection will make you unable to experience the sensation of touch, temperature, and pain.

The main symptoms of leprosy include:

• Weak muscles.
• Numbness in the eyes, hands and feet.
• Skin spots similar to tinea versicolor (the color is lighter than the surrounding skin).

Usually the incubation period of this disease is quite long. The initial symptoms of leprosy can appear about 3 to 5 years from the first exposure to the infection. Some people don't even experience any symptoms until 20 years later. Therefore, it is very difficult for doctors to determine when and where people with leprosy are infected.

Types of leprosy defects that need to be watched out for

Based on the National Guidelines for the Leprosy Control Program issued by the Ministry of National Health, disabilities due to leprosy are divided into primary disabilities and secondary disabilities.

Primary defects

Primary defect is a type of leprosy defect caused directly by M. leprae bacterial infection in the body. For example, numbness, claw hand (bent hands and fingers), and dry skin.

In primary defects, skin patches that look like tinea versicolor will usually continue to increase in a relatively short time. Leprosy spots also become inflamed and swollen for a long time. This condition is often accompanied by fever symptoms. People who have leprosy also usually experience muscle weakness and a sensation of numb skin (numbness / numbness) in the last six months since the initial exposure to the infection.

In addition, boils caused by leprosy can sometimes break and develop into ulcers. If you experience the symptoms above, visit your doctor immediately to get the best treatment to prevent the severity of the symptoms and condition.

Secondary defects

Secondary defects are the development of primary defects, especially those that result from nerve damage. For example, ulcers (open sores in the skin, aka ulcers), and limited motion of the joints as a result of functional damage to the joints and soft tissues around the affected area.

Leprosy disability at this stage occurs through two processes, namely:

• There is a direct flow of M. leprae bacteria to the peripheral nervous system and certain organs.
• Through the leprosy reaction.

If bacteria have entered the nerves, the nerve function will be reduced or even lost. In general, nerves function as sensory, motor, and autonomic. The disorders that occur due to leprosy can cause disturbances in each nerve or a combination of the three.

• Sensory nerve disorders. Sensory function nerves are responsible for providing sensations in feeling, feeling pain, and feeling temperature. Sensory nerve disorders can result in numbness of the hands and feet and reduced blinking reflexes, among others.
• Motor nerve disorders. Motor nerves function to provide strength to muscles. Motor nerve disorders or disorders can include paralysis of the hands and feet, bent fingers or toes, and inability to blink. If there is an infection in the eye, it can lead to blindness.
• Autonomic nerve disorders. The autonomic nerves are responsible for the sweat and oil glands in the body. Disorders of this part of the nerves result in dryness and cracking of the skin due to damage to the oil glands and blood flow.

The severity of leprosy defects

Apart from being distinguished by type, leprosy defects can also be distinguished from the severity of the defects that occur. Each organ affected by leprosy infection (eyes, hands, and feet) is assigned its own defect level.

The defect rate of leprosy according to the World Health Organization (WHO), namely

Level 0

At this level, organs such as the eyes, hands and feet do not experience any abnormalities.

Level 1

This level is characterized by damage to the cornea of ​​the eye. In addition, there is impaired visual acuity but not in a severe stage. Usually sufferers can still see something from a distance of 6 meters. In addition, there is muscle weakness and numbness in the hands and feet.

Level 2

In grade 2, the eyelids do not close properly. Not only that, vision is very disturbed because usually patients with this level are no longer able to see things from a distance of 6 meters and beyond. Then there are also disabilities in the hands and feet such as open wounds and permanently bent fingers.

Can leprosy defects be prevented?

The development of leprosy can be prevented by early detection and treatment. That way, tissue damage, the spread of the disease, and the risk of complications from leprosy defects can also be overcome.

In addition, monitoring the patient's condition regularly and providing proper care also helps prevent leprosy defects.

If the nerve damage occurs in less than 6 months and is treated promptly and appropriately, permanent nerve damage can be avoided. However, if a new patient is detected and takes medication after experiencing a permanent or secondary disability, all that can be done is to control the patient's health condition so that the disability does not get worse.

There are steps to prevent disabilities due to leprosy that you can do at home, namely by doing 3M: examining the eyes, hands and feet; protect the eyes, hands and feet; and take care of yourself.