Leprosy Treatment

Leprosy is known as a disease that has been the fearful dream of people throughout history and is excluded by societies. Leprosy is a serious health problem that has been affecting people’s lives since ancient times and causing great problems especially in social life. In this article we have written for you, we will try to answer the questions about what leprosy is, its causes and symptoms.

What is Leprosy?

Leprosy, also known as “Hansen’s disease” by its medical name, is a contagious and chronic skin and nervous system disease. This disease causes skin lesions, nerve damage and in some cases disability throughout the body. Leprosy is a disease that is still prevalent throughout the world, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

What Causes Leprosy?

Leprosy is a disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. This bacterium can be transmitted through breathing or close contact. However, leprosy has a very low contagiousness compared to other infectious diseases and usually requires long-term, close contact. In addition, some genetic factors are thought to play a role in susceptibility to leprosy.

What Are the Symptoms of Leprosy?

The symptoms of leprosy can be mild and vague in the early stages of the disease. In the future, it will become more obvious. The most common symptoms of leprosy are:

• Pale or reddish patches on the skin,
• Persistent and usually painless sores or blisters on the skin,
• Loss of sensitivity in skin and nerve tissue,
• Swelling and thickening of the nerves,
• Muscle weakness and loss of movement,
• Runny nose, nasal congestion and nosebleeds,
• Eye problems and vision loss,
• Asymmetry and deformities on the face and body,

Leprosy treatment is more successful when diagnosed early. Today, leprosy can be successfully treated with a treatment called multi-drug therapy (MDT). This treatment prevents the spread of the disease and improves the quality of life of patients. Early diagnosis and treatment in the treatment of leprosy play a key role in preventing disability caused by the disease.

What Are the Types of Leprosy?

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, also known as leprosy. This bacterium causes damage in a slow process by affecting the skin, nervous system, mucosal surfaces and some internal organs. Leprosy can occur in various forms with different clinical manifestations and immune responses. The types of leprosy are:

Tuberculoid Leprosy; This type of leprosy appears in a milder form as it is better controlled by the patient’s immune system. It is characterized by symptoms such as mild discoloration of the skin and numbness. Nerve damage and loss of sensation in the skin are also common in tuberculoid leprosy.

Borderline Tuberculoid Leprosy; This form follows a moderate course between tuberculoid leprosy and lepromatous leprosy. Larger and more prominent lesions appear on the skin. Nerve damage and loss of sensation are also present in this form.

Lepromatous Leprosy; This type of leprosy is the more severe form of the disease and cannot be adequately controlled by the immune system. It is characterized by widespread nodular lesions on the skin, runny nose, nasal congestion, facial swelling and permanent sores. Lepromatous leprosy can also affect internal organs such as the nerves, kidneys, testicles, and liver.

Borderline Lepromatous Leprosy; This form also follows a moderate course between tuberculoid and lepromatous leprosy. More extensive and prominent lesions on the skin, nerve damage and loss of sensation are seen.

Indeterminate Leprosy; This type of leprosy is a form whose symptoms are mild and nonspecific, indicating an early stage of the disease. Indeterminate leprosy may turn into a more pronounced form over time or may be controlled by the immune system and healed.

How Is Leprosy Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of leprosy is made by evaluating the patient’s symptoms, physical examination findings, and laboratory tests. The diagnostic process is as follows;

• The patient is evaluated for signs of leprosy such as skin discoloration, numbness, swelling, and sores.

• The doctor checks for lesions on the skin, nervous system functions, and any abnormalities in other organs.

• By performing the necessary laboratory tests, the diagnosis of leprosy is facilitated.

Once leprosy is diagnosed, further evaluation can be done to determine what form of the disease it is and to plan appropriate treatment.

What Are Leprosy Treatment Methods?

Leprosy is a treatable disease, and with early diagnosis and treatment, patients’ quality of life can be significantly improved. Some of the leprosy treatment methods can be listed as follows;

The main treatment for leprosy is the use of antibiotics to control the infection. Antibiotics used to treat leprosy include rifampicin, dapsone, and clofazimine. These drugs are usually given together, and this combination is known as multi-drug therapy (MDT). MDT helps prevent bacteria from developing drug resistance.

In leprosy patients, anti-inflammatory drugs can be used to reduce nerve damage and inflammation. Steroids are common drugs used for this purpose.

It is known that in the treatment of leprosy, patients may develop some reactions. These reactions can cause skin redness, swelling and pain. To manage the reactions, doctors can often prescribe corticosteroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Physical and occupational therapy are important for the management of nerve damage and deformities caused by leprosy. These therapies help patients maintain their independence in their daily lives and improve their quality of life.

In severe cases, surgical intervention may be required. Surgery can help correct nerve compression and deformities. It can also be used to treat wounds and ulcers caused by leprosy.

What Are the Complications of Leprosy?

Leprosy can lead to serious complications if left untreated. Some of the complications of leprosy are as follows;

• Nerve damage,
• Skin problems,
• Eye problems
• Upper respiratory tract problems
• Deformities,
• Psychosocial problems,

Early diagnosis and treatment are critical in preventing leprosy complications. That’s why it’s important to see a healthcare professional right away when symptoms of leprosy are noticed.

Leprosy Treatment Prices in Turkey

Turkey has succeeded in making its name known to the world with its investments and Especially the latest technological devices used in diagnosis and treatment procedures have been a beacon of hope for many diseases. However, there has been an increase in health tourism in Türkiye.

• Hospitals are large, clean, spacious and fully equipped in terms of technological equipment.
• Turkish doctors are specialized, successful, and skilled in their fields.
• Nurses and carers are friendly and compassionate.
• Finding answers to the questions asked quickly and accurately.
• Patience and understanding of all staff, including the intermediary company dealing with the patient.
• Turkey offers holiday opportunities with its natural and historical beauties.
• Easy transportation.
• Diagnosis, treatment, accommodation, eating, drinking, dressing, and holiday needs can be met at affordable prices.

Such situations are shown among the reasons for preference. We can see that patients and relatives of patients who want to come to Turkey are doing research on leprosy treatment prices in Turkey. However, it would not be correct to give clear price information at this stage. Many factors such as the type of disease, stage, diagnosis process, treatment process, and stay in Türkiye affect the price issue. If you want to get more detailed price information, you can contact us. In addition, if you come to Turkey for treatment through us, we can facilitate your visa application process with the invitation letter sent by us to the consulate.