Leprosy is a chronic bacterial infection. Leprosy is also known as Hansen disease. It is generally characterized by disfiguring skin lesions, peripheral nerve damage, and progressive debilitation. Leprosy is caused by the organism Mycobacterium leprae. This bacterium grows very slowly and mainly affects the skin, nerves, and mucous membranes. When a person becomes infected with Mycobacterium leprae, the bacteria begin to multiply within the body and symptoms often begin after three to five years.

There are several forms of leprosy that range from the mildest form to the most severe type. The two main types of leprosy are:

• Lepromatous leprosy (LL)
• Tuberculoid leprosy (TT)

Other forms are:

• Indeterminate leprosy (IL)
• Borderline tuberculoid leprosy (BT)
• Borderline borderline leprosy (BB)
• Borderline lepromatous leprosy (BL) Read the rest of this entry →