Question

Leprosy is also called
A. Hansen’s disease
B. Infantile paralysis
C. Koch’s disease
D. Pertussis

Answer 1

Leprosy is an infectious disease which is caused by bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It affects the skin peripheral nerves. Leprosy was first recognized in Egypt, India, and China. It was discovered by Gerhard Armauer Hansen.

Complete answer:
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease which affects the skin, peripheral nerves and mucus membranes of the upper respiratory tract. It is also called Hansen’s disease, which is named after its discoverer Gerhard Armauer Hansen. It is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. It is a rod-shaped bacillus. This bacterium does not grow artificially. Leprosy is the oldest and most stigmatized disease. It affects people of all ages. The only known natural host of this bacterium are humans and armadillo.
The incubation period of M. lepare: it is a prolonged multiplying bacteria, and symptoms take as long as 20 years to appear in the body and the development of the disease can take from months to years.
Leprosy is of two types, paucibacillary and multibacillary. Paucibacillary affects eyes, skin and respiratory tract while multibacillary affects nerves in fingers and toes. It is also known as tuberculoid leprosy. There is also another type called Borderline leprosy, and it has both the symptoms of both paucibacillary and multibacillary.
Symptoms of leprosy include hyperpigmented skin lesions with loss sensation, weakness of the muscles of hand, feet, or face, damage to the peripheral nerves,
Although there is no vaccine for leprosy, it can be cured by multiple drug therapy. Tuberculosis vaccine, BCG has also been deemed to be successful for it.

Thus, the correct answer to this question is option A- Hansen’s Disease.

Note: Leprosy is stigmatized among people due to lack of knowledge about the disease. It increases misconceptions about the disease’s transmission and treatment. Leprosy is a significant problem in undeveloped countries. However, steps have been taken to control it.