How to Prevent Leprosy

Leprosy is an infection caused by the Mycobacterium leprae bacterium. It is usually contracted through prolonged contact with an infected person and is not particularly contagious. Only 5 percent of the people who are exposed to Mycobacterium leprae develop leprosy and it no longer carries the stigma it once did. The following steps will show how to prevent leprosy.

Instructions

• 1

  Stay away from people who are in the contagious phase of infection. Humans are by far the largest reservoirs of leprosy and it has been detected in only three other species: the 9-banded armadillo, chimpanzees and mangabey monkeys. Of these, only the armadillo is found outside zoos in the United States.

• 2

  Isolate patients with leprosy who are still contagious. The personal contacts of patients with multi-bacillary leprosy should be examined on a regular basis. Early detection and treatment is essential in controlling the spread of this disease.

• 3

  Begin prompt multi-drug therapy for patients with leprosy. Treatment with dapsone and rifampin greatly reduces the viability of Mycobacterium leprae within the first three weeks and patients are no longer considered contagious at this point. This drug therapy, while an effective cure, is not considered to be an effective prophylaxis against leprosy.

• 4

  Continue treatment until the patient is completely cured and no longer a source of infection for leprosy. This typically requires at least six months and may last for many years. Cases of lepromatous leprosy may require life-long treatment.

• 5

  Administer Bacile Calmette-Guerin (BCG) or other leprosy vaccines for a possible increase in immunity and aid in prevention. These vaccines are rarely used because their effectiveness is questionable and 95 percent of humans are naturally immune to leprosy.