Definition of leprosy Leprosy

/lɛˈpɹʌsi/ - [leprusee] - lep•ro•sy

We found 8 definitions of leprosy from 7 different sources.

What does leprosy mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: leprosies
leprosy - chronic granulomatous communicable disease occurring in tropical and subtropical regions; characterized by inflamed nodules beneath the skin and wasting of body parts; caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae
		Hansen's disease
		infectious disease a disease transmitted only by a specific kind of contact
		tuberculoid leprosy leprosy characterized by tumors in the skin and cutaneous nerves
		lepromatous leprosy a very serious form of leprosy characterized by lesions that spread over much of the body and affecting many systems of the body

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Wiktionary

leprosy (Noun)
An infectious disease caused by infection by.
leprosy (Noun)
In the Bible, a disease of the skin not conclusively identified, which can also affect clothes and houses.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

leprosy (n.)
A cutaneous disease which first appears as blebs or as reddish, shining, slightly prominent spots, with spreading edges. These are often followed by an eruption of dark or yellowish prominent nodules, frequently producing great deformity. In one variety of the disease, anaesthesia of the skin is a prominent symptom. In addition there may be wasting of the muscles, falling out of the hair and nails, and distortion of the hands and feet with destruction of the bones and joints. It is incurable, and is probably contagious.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

leprosy
A chronic infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis which causes permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes if left untreated.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

leprosy
lep′ro-si, n. a name applied to several different cutaneous diseases of contagious character, now confined to lepra cutanea, elephantiasis, Græcorum, or Leontiasis.—n. Lep′ra, leprosy: a scurfy, mealy substance on the surface of some plants.—adjs. Lep′rose, scale-like or scurf-like; Lep′rous, affected with leprosy.—adv. Lep′rously.—ns. Lep′rousness, Lepros′ity. [See Leper.]

Wikipedia

Leprosy is an infectious disease. It has been known for a very long time. Today, it is mostly referred to as Hansen's disease, named after the person who discovered the bacterium, Gerhard Armauer Hansen. It is caused by a bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae.

Today the disease is curable by a cocktail of antibiotics. It takes between 6 months and 2 years to cure a person. Unfortunately, the drugs may not be available in developing countries (where there are the most cases of leprosy). As of 2004, the estimated number of new infections was about 400,000.

Getting the disease is hard, since it requires close contact with someone who has it, over a long period of time. In addition, about 95% of the people seem to be naturally immune to it.

Most cases of leprosy occur in India, and other developing countries. There are practically no cases of leprosy in the developed world. This is because there are excellent drugs and people regularly take antibiotics which will kill the leprosy bacteria.

In former times, leprosy was seen as a divine punishment for sins committed.

The symptoms of leprosy are irregular spots and patches on the skin. These are either lighter colored than the surrounding skin, or reddish in color. On those patches, hair will fall out, and they will feel numb to the patient. Nerves will form knots there.

With the illness progressing the sense of touch will become less and less (until the patient feels completely numb). So called leptomes and ulcers will eat away the skin,