Biography
Biography: Mohammad Rafiqul Mowla
Abstract
Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affecting the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and eyes mimicking many dermatological and neurological entities and sometimes leading to a delay in diagnosis. The complications of leprosy are due to nerve damage, immunological reactions and bacillary infiltration. Untreated, leprosy can cause progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. The disease is classified as paucibacillary (PB) or multibacillary (MB), depending on the bacillary load. PB leprosy is a milder disease characterized by few (up to five) skin lesions (pale or reddish), whereas MB is associated with multiple (more than five) skin lesions, nodules, plaques, thickened dermis or skin infiltration. Early diagnosis and treatment with multidrug therapy (MDT) remain the key elements in eliminating the disease as a public health concern. MDT comprises of three drugs, dapsone, rifampicin and clofazimine. PB and MB patients treated with MDT are cured within six months and 12 months respectively. The emergence of drug resistance to rifampicin is a big concern at this crucial time in the elimination of leprosy. If this is not taken care of immediately then the possible emergence of primary resistance to rifampicin, dapsone and ofloxacin will be on the horizon. Developing reinforced new therapies to curb reactions and deformities are important, and contact tracing, particularly of children, is essential. Domiciliary treatment needs to be made available to ensure early diagnosis. Elimination of leprosy globally was achieved in the year 2000. Pockets of high endemicity still remain in some areas of many countries. In order to reach all patients; leprosy treatment needs to be fully integrated into general health services. Moreover, political commitment needs to be sustained in countries where leprosy remains a public health problem. A global effort to address the challenges to reduce the disease burden due to leprosy and mitigate its harmful impact on persons affected by leprosy and their families is urgent.