Leprosy is a disease that has plagued the human race since the beginning of time. It has affected people of all races, nationalities and social status. The early days of American history has involved issues involving leprosy, regarding the treatment of people suffering from the disease. Over the years, leprosy has failed to be considered a threat to public health, however, now it is becoming a concern.
What Is Leprosy
Leprosy is a disease caused by the bacterium mycobacterium leprae. It affects the peripheral nerves, skin, respiratory tract, eyes, and nasal mucus membranes. Early signs of the disease is a spot on the skin that may be redder, darker, or lighter than a person's normal skin complexion. The spot may loose hair and loose feeling. There is a lose of feeling in the hands and feet. Eyes loose their ability to blink, resulting in blindness and extreme blindness in the eyes. The internal lining of the nose becomes damaged and eventually collapses. Lesions form on the skin.
Leprosy is contagious; it can be contracted through long-term intimate contact with someone suffering from leprosy.
Isolation
Originally, there was no treatment for leprosy. People suffering from the disease were put in isolation from society where they waited to die as the disease slowly deteriorated their bodies. There was a fear that leprosy was strongly contagious.
In the late 1800s under the American Quarantine Law, a leprosy camp was established in Carville, Louisiana. Doctors were required to report leper patients to the government. The leper patients were then quickly and secretly taken to the Carville Leprosy camp where they were kept for the rest of their lives guarded by armed soldiers. No word about them nor their whereabouts was given to their family or friends.
Treatment
A sulfone therapy treatment was discovered for leprosy in the 1940s. The therapy stopped the progression of the disease, curing the victims. However, any physical damage caused by leprosy is unrepairable. Since then, other more effective drug treatments for leprosy have been developed. People can now be cured of leprosy with the drug treatment, but they must get the treatment during the early stages of the disease in order for it to work.
Leprosy In Modern America
Cases of leprosy are rare in the U.S.. However, due to the increase in immigrants from Mexico, India, Africa and other Third World nations, there has been an increase in the number of reported leprosy cases. According to research done by Ben Whitford in Leprosy In America: New Causes of Concern, an average of 130 leprosy cases are discovered each year among immigrants. The leprosy cases are mainly in areas of the United States with a high immigrant populations, such as in New York, Texas, California, and Florida. According to Whitford, because many American doctors have very little experience in treating the disease, leprosy in its early stages is often mistaken for eczema or diabetes.
People with HIV are now at risk of developing leprosy. (Worrisome New Link: AIDS Drugs& Leprosy, New York Times, Oct 24, 2006, Donald G. McNeil Jr.) These cases have been found in various places in the United States as well as in Third World nations. People treated with antiretroviral drugs for AIDS are developing leprosy. Doctors and scientist are baffled at this problem and are trying to figure out the cause.
Leprosy is an old disease that poses new challenges for American. It is something that American doctors should give attention to for the safety of the American public.
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