Updated on - 12 Feb 2026
Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that still affects thousands globally each year. Despite efforts to eliminate the disease, around 210,000 new cases are still reported annually, with India accounting for nearly 60% of them. Despite being declared "eliminated" in India at the national level in 2005 (meaning less than 1 case per 10,000 population), it continues to persist in several states. Thanks to modern medicine, leprosy is curable with free multidrug therapy, but early detection and stigma reduction remain critical to ending the disease for good.
What is leprosy?
Leprosy, also known as Hansen disease, is a bacterial infection affecting a person's skin, nasal lining and peripheral nerves. This disease has prevailed across the globe but commonly affects the residents of warm tropical and subtropical regions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are around 2,08,000 leprosy patients worldwide, mostly from Asia and Africa.
One of the oldest diseases existing since biblical times, leprosy was always considered a highly infectious and dangerous condition. Till date, many leprosy patients across the world are forced to live in isolation and suffer social stigma. This article will talk about the causes and symptoms of leprosy, its treatment and eliminate misconceptions surrounding the disease.
What causes leprosy?
Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) or Mycobacterium lepromatosis (M. lepromatosis) which affects the skin, eyes, respiratory tract and peripheral nerves of the infected person. Skin lesions appear mainly in the colder areas of the body. The disease can spread through cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person or direct contact with an untreated leprosy patient.
A person with a weaker immunity can get infected with the disease quickly. Children may be more susceptible to this disease than adults.
Symptoms of leprosy
Leprosy doesn't show immediate symptoms. The infection gradually develops into the disease, and it may take between one to 20 years for the infected person to show the first signs of leprosy, which include:
- Skin lesions paler than the person's normal skin tone
- Skin lesions with reduced sensation
- Foot ulcers
- Dry and cracked skin
- Muscle weakness
- Numbness in the hands and feet
- Curled fingers
- Facial disfigurement
- Hair loss
- Dry eyes, ulcers and maybe blindness
Forms of leprosy
There are several classifications of leprosy. The two main categories are the Ridley-Jopling classification and the World Health Organization (WHO) classification.
Ridley-Jopling classification identifies the following five gradations of the disease:
- Tuberculoid leprosy: Fewer lesions; some are large and numb with nerve enlargement
- Borderline tuberculoid leprosy: More but smaller lesions with more nerve enlargement
- Mid-borderline leprosy: Reddish plaques with moderate numbness and swollen lymph nodes
- Borderline lepromatous leprosy: Many lesions with raised bumps, plaques and more numbness
- Lepromatous leprosy: Several lesions, disfigurement, limb weakness and hair loss
The number of skin lesions defines world Health Organization (WHO) classification:
- The first form is paucibacillary; wherein there are fewer skin lesions with no bacterium seen on the skin smear.
- The second form is multibacillary; wherein there are multiple skin lesions with bacterium seen on the skin smear.
Diagnosis of leprosy
The doctor will first examine the patient for physical signs of symptoms of leprosy. Based on this, the doctor will conduct a biopsy on a small skin sample. This may be followed by a skin smear test to identify paucibacillary or multibacillary leprosy.
The doctor may also conduct a lepromin skin test to diagnose the type of leprosy further. In this process, the patient is injected with a small dose of inactive leprosy-causing bacterium on the forearm. The skin patch will be observed after a few days. A patient infected with tuberculoid or borderline tuberculoid leprosy will show a reaction to the injection.
Treatment of leprosy
Leprosy can be cured if detected early. In 1995, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced Multi-drug Therapy (MDT) to combat it. And this treatment is available for free across the world. Depending on the type of leprosy, the doctor may prescribe treatment for six months or longer, in case of severe leprosy. A combination of the following antibiotics is used for leprosy treatment:
- Dapsone (Aczone)
- Minocycline (Minocin)
- Ofloxacin (Ocuflux)
- Rifampin (Rifadin)
- Clofazimine (Lamprene)
For nerve damage, the doctor may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication such as prednisone (Rayos), aspirin (Bayer), or thalidomide (Thalomid). However, since thalidomide leads to a congenital disability, it should be avoided by pregnant women or women who plan to have a child soon.
Complications in leprosy
If not treated early, leprosy can cause serious complications. These include:
- Nerve damage
Leprosy bacteria attack the nerves, especially in the hands, feet, face and eyes. Damaged nerves can lead to:
- Loss of feeling (numbness) in the skin
- Muscle weakness (you may not be able to move your fingers, toes, or feet properly)
- Inability to feel pain, heat, or injuries, which can cause repeated wounds, burns, or cuts without realising it
- Disabilities
Because of nerve damage, people with untreated leprosy may develop:
- Clawed hands or curled fingers
- Foot drop (difficulty lifting the front of the foot)
- Shortened or deformed toes and fingers from unnoticed injuries
- Difficulty closing the eyelids, which can harm the eyes
- Eye damage and blindness
If facial nerves are affected, blinking may become difficult. This causes dry eyes which can lead to:
- Eye infections
- Ulcers on the eye
- Blindness, if not treated in time
- Skin ulcers and infections
Open sores or ulcers can develop, especially on the feet, due to injuries that go unnoticed. These wounds may get infected and worsen over time.
- Deformities and disfigurement
Over time, untreated leprosy can cause the skin and bones to change shape, especially on the face, hands and feet. This may lead to:
- Collapsed nose or swollen face
- Loss of eyebrows and eyelashes
How to prevent leprosy?
Here are a few ways to help prevent leprosy:
- Early detection and treatment
The most important way to prevent leprosy is to find it early and start treatment immediately. This:
- Stops the disease from spreading to others
- Protects the nerves from damage
- Prevents complications and disability
If someone in your family or community has symptoms (like skin patches with numbness), encourage them to see a doctor.
- Check close contacts
People who live closely with someone who has untreated leprosy are at higher risk. They should:
- Be examined regularly by a doctor
- Get treatment quickly if they show any signs
- In some cases, get a single-dose preventive antibiotic (such as rifampicin) to stop the disease from developing
- Improve hygiene and living conditions
Leprosy spreads slowly, but crowded or poor living conditions can increase the risk. Some helpful steps include:
- Keeping homes clean and well-ventilated
- Washing hands and face regularly
- Avoiding long-term close contact with untreated cases
- Vaccines
There is no perfect vaccine yet, but the BCG vaccine (mainly used against tuberculosis) gives some protection against leprosy. Research is ongoing to develop a better vaccine in the future.
Importantly, people with leprosy do not need to be kept away from society. Once they start treatment, they become non-infectious and can live a normal life.
Conclusion
Leprosy is an ancient disease that still affects many people, especially in developing countries. But it is no longer the deadly or disabling illness it once was. Today, leprosy can be cured with simple, free medicine.
The key is early diagnosis and treatment. The earlier it’s caught, the less likely it is to cause lasting damage. While treatment for leprosy is often provided free of charge, it’s still important to have medical insurance to cover other health needs.
Regular check-ups, early diagnosis and follow-up care can be made easier with proper insurance coverage. If you're caring for older family members, it’s also a good idea to explore medical insurance for parents, so they can access the best medical support when needed, especially for conditions that require long-term care or monitoring.
FAQs
- Is leprosy still around today?
Yes, but it is much less common than in the past. Around 200,000 new cases are reported each year, mostly in countries like India, Brazil, and Indonesia.
- Is leprosy contagious?
It is mildly contagious and spreads slowly. You need close and long-term contact to catch it.
- Can leprosy be cured?
Yes, with modern multi-drug therapy, leprosy can be completely cured.
- Can children get leprosy?
Yes, but it's rare. Children living in close contact with untreated patients may be at higher risk.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult your general physician or another certified medical professional for any questions regarding a medical condition. Relying on any information provided in this blog is solely at your own risk, and ICICI Lombard is not responsible for any effects or consequences resulting from the use of the information shared.