Leprosy

Generalities
Agent	Bacteria: Mycobacterium leprae
Incubation period	From 9 months to 20 years
Period of transmissibility	- During active disease - Effective antibiotherapy stops transmission within one day of treatment
Reservoir	Humans, but also observed in monkeys
Modes of transmission	Person-to-person: close contact with nasal mucosa of a patient to the skin or respiratory tract of another person
Clinical presentation	- Chronic bacterial disease of the skin, peripheral nerves and upper airway, characterized by skin lesions (hypo-pigmentation with definite loss of sensation) and thicknesses of peripheral nerves and signs of peripheral nerves involvment - Two forms: 1) Lepromatous multibacillary form (>5 skin lesions): symmetrical and bilateral nodules, papules, and diffuse infiltrations, involvement of nasal mucosa, ocular involvement… 2) Tuberculoid paucibacillary form (1-5 skin lesions): single or few skin lesions, sharply demarcated, anaesthesic or hypoaesthesic, bilateral asymmetrical involvement of peripheral nerves
Resources
Case definition	MOPH circular no. 38 (2007)
Forms	- General reporting form - Leprosy investigation form
Data	Refer to "Surveillance data" webpage