Leprosy and our peculiar attitude towards the sufferers.

This is one of the most feared deseases of all times. It causes no pain, but slowly defaces and consumes the body. It was not easy to catch so that it almost seemed like those that got it were specially chosen by some higher power. At this point in time I think it is curable in 100% of the cases, but I do know a few years ago there was some concern that the bactera could become imune to present treatment.

Hello, How do you feel or what do you do if there is a leprosy person besides you?

There is a great movie with Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman in it named Papillion where Steve and Dustin are prisoners in French Giana. I believe his mother had leprosy and they look at eachother from a distance. To explain the peculiar attitude people have about the disease I would have you look at how people still are about HIV. Ignorance is most of it.

While the superstition of the old days is gone it has been replaced by the fear of infection. Yes it is infectious! That is the reason. http://diseases.emedtv.com/leprosy/causes-of-leprosy.html Leprosy in full blown condition is ugly and this contributes too!

I can only guess that it is due to lack of information, or rather lack of searching for the information. It is common that most hear the word disease and feel that it is something they too can get, unfortunate because with a bit of education towards the subject one can instantly gain some knowledge and not be afraid but be courteous and understanding. There is never any excuse though, because regardless if it is this disease or any disease with a bit of compassion, courtesy and understanding would not cost anything but a few seconds.

It is a dreaded diesease and in biblical times it was as you mentioned seen as a curse as a result of sin and people who suffered from leprosy were ostracized and were suject to make sacrifces as so forth to pruify themselves. But modern medical science proved to us that anyone or anybody can contract that diesease. It is now curable and people who have such should be encourgaed to get treatment. We should be afraid because it is now curable so we can help people who have by talking to them and taking them to the nearest medical centre etc.

Yes leprosy should not be feared anymore, people fear things that they do not understand, did you know that the Philippines use to have a leper colony? It even had it's own currency which is a collectible today because people then thought that it could be spread fast thru inanimate objects? Well spread is very slow thru open lesions of the skin and takes a long time for symptoms to manifest itself, the bacteria is somewhat related to tuberculosis mycobacterium (bacillus),very curable but would take time when left unattended similar to T.B. because of the thick cell wall of the causative agent. People should change their attitude towards those with the disease because it's not that contagious as previously perceived.