Leprosy

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Hansen's disease

Medications used to eliminate the microorganism and to reduce symptoms include:

• Dapsone
• Rifampin
• Clofazimine
• Ethionamide
• Aspirin, prednisone, or thalidomide are used for the control of inflammation (e.g., "erythema nodosum leprosum") that may occur with therapy

Early recognition is important. Early treatment limits damage by the disease, renders the person noninfectious, and allows for a normal lifestyle.

• permanent nerve damage
• cosmetic disfigurement

Call your health care provider if signs or symptoms described here occur, especially following exposure. Cases of leprosy in the United States need to be reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Review Date: 10/27/2005
Reviewed By: Daniel Levy, M.D., Ph.D., Infectious Diseases, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.