What is leprosy?

Leprosy is an infectious disease that mainly affects the skin and nerves. It can also affect your mucous membranes (nose), eyes and testicles. Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease.

Leprosy is rare in Australia. It can be easily treated and cured with antibiotics. In Australia, over the last 5 years there has been between 5 to 13 cases of leprosy each year. Most of these are in:

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people from northern Australia
• migrants from areas where the condition is more common

What are the types of leprosy?

The form of leprosy you get depends on how your body's immune system reacts to the bacteria.

Multibacillary leprosy (lepromatous leprosy) develops when you have low resistance to the bacteria. Symptoms include a stuffy or runny nose and numerous skin spots and patches. If it's not treated, it can lead to other problems such as:

• loss of feeling in your skin
• ulcers
• deformed limbs
• blindness
• testicles getting smaller
• breasts enlarging

Paucibacillary leprosy (tuberculoid leprosy) develops when you have a high level of resistance to the bacteria. This involves just one or a few skin spots that may go away over time.

What are the symptoms of leprosy?

Most people notice skin numbness before they have any other signs of disease.

Symptoms of leprosy can range from:

• many skin bumps on both sides of the body
• a stuffy nose due to the lining of the nose being affected
• bleeding and inflammation of the eyes

If you have higher resistance, you may have:

• few skin bumps
• enlarged nerves, in your arms and legs with loss of feeling

If it's not treated, leprosy can cause lasting deformity, especially to your hands, feet and face. Damage to the nerves can also cause blindness.

What causes leprosy?

Leprosy is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. It's an airborne infection that can be spread from person to person. This can happen when someone with untreated leprosy coughs or sneezes and a nearby person breathes in the droplets containing the bacteria.

Leprosy does not spread very easily. You usually need to have close, long-term contact with someone with leprosy to catch the disease.

It's thought that more than 9 in 10 people are naturally immune to leprosy. So, most people who have contact with someone with leprosy are unlikely to become infected.

The disease progresses very slowly. Your symptoms may not appear until 1 year to 20 years after infection.

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if you have symptoms of leprosy.

How is leprosy diagnosed?

In many cases your doctor will be able to diagnose leprosy by examining you. They may also take a skin biopsy (small sample of your skin) to test for the bacteria.

Leprosy is a notifiable disease. This means that if you have leprosy, the lab must tell the local public health authority. They may ask to talk with you to try and find out where you caught the infection.

How is leprosy treated?

Leprosy can be cured with a combination of 2 to 3 types of antibiotics. Usually, you will need to take these tablets for between 1 and 2 years.

It's important to take all your antibiotics as prescribed. Early treatment can lower your chance of lasting nerve damage and deformity.

Soon after starting treatment, you are no longer able to spread the disease. You do not need to be kept away from other people during treatment.

Leprosy treatment is free. You don't need to stay in hospital while you're being treated.

What are the complications of leprosy?

If leprosy is not treated, it can cause deformity, especially in your hands, feet and face. Leprosy causes nerve damage which can alter how you feel pain. This can lead to accidental injuries or burns which cause scarring and deformities.

Special reconstructive surgery can correct many deformities that develop. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists can help you avoid getting further problems with your hands and feet.

Can leprosy be prevented?

Leprosy can best be prevented by treating people with the disease. This helps to make sure that infected people do not spread the disease to others.

The tuberculosis vaccine (BCG) gives some protection against leprosy. This is because the bacteria that causes leprosy is closely related to the one that causes tuberculosis.

If you live in the same house as someone with leprosy, you should be followed up by a doctor or nurse. BCG vaccination is recommended for children under 5 years old who live with a person with leprosy.

Resources and Support

If you are worried about leprosy, you can call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.