World Leprosy Day: Proactive Detection and Early Diagnosis Essential for Achieving Zero Disability in Children
Although cases of leprosy in the Americas have declined by more than 30 percent in the last decade, cases are still being notified in some countries, highlighting the need to maintain disease control measures to sustain that decline.
On World Leprosy Day this month, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO / WHO) is calling for proactive detection and early diagnosis to achieve zero cases of leprosy-related disabilities in children, the theme of the campaign this year.
Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by a slow multiplying bacillus, Mycobacterium leprae, which multiplies slowly and has an incubation period of about 5 years. Symptoms can take as long as 20 years to appear. The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes. Leprosy is curable with multidrug therapy (MDT), which is free in all countries…
Access the complete article on the PAHO/Washington
See More:
- PAHO/WHO Leprosy
- Secretaria de Vigilância Sanitária – Ministério da Saúde do Brasil (MS Brasil)
- Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS)(em espanhol)
- Leprosy elimination – World Health Organization (WHO) (em inglês)
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