Signs and Symptoms of Hansen's Disease
- Hansen's disease (also known as leprosy) is caused by slow growing bacteria.
- Symptoms mainly affect the skin, nerves, and lining of the nose.
- Loss of sensation in affected areas can occur, increasing the risk of injuries going unnoticed due to the decreased ability to sense touch and pain.
- Hansen's disease hard to spread and easily treatable.
Skin symptoms
- Discolored or lighter patches of skin
- Nodules on the skin
- Thick, stiff, or dry skin
- Painless ulcers on the soles of feet
- Painless swelling or lumps on the face or earlobes
- Loss of eyebrows or eyelashes
Symptoms caused by nerve damage
- Numbness of affected skin areas
- Muscle weakness or paralysis, especially in the hands and feet
- Enlarged nerves, usually around the elbows, knees, and side of the neck
- Eye problems that may lead to blindness
Complications
If left untreated, advanced Hansen's disease can cause:
- Paralysis and crippling of hands and feet
- Shortening of toes and fingers due to reabsorption
- Chronic non-healing ulcers on the bottoms of the feet
- Blindness
- Loss of eyebrows
- Nose disfigurement
- Painful or tender nerves
- Redness and pain around the affected area
- Burning sensation in the skin