Symptoms of Leprosy
There are several symptoms that come with leprosy. But there are certain more common symptoms, including:
- Skin patches that may be red or have loss of pigmentation
- Numbness or tingling in your hands, arms, feet and legs
- Skin patches with diminished or absent sensation
- Painless wounds or burns on the hands and feet
- Weakness in the muscle
Some other symptoms that may occur in people with leprosy include:
- Enlarged peripheral nerves
- Thick of stiff skin
- Nosebleeds
- Nasal congestion
- Loss of eyelashes or eyebrows
Lack of care or treatment for leprosy can cause one’s condition to worsen and lead to:
- Vision loss
- Paralysis [5]
- Permanent damage to the hands and feet
- Disfigurement of the nose
- Chronic ulcers on the bottom of the feet that don’t heal
- Shortening of the fingers and toes.
Once you are infected with Mycobacterium leprae bacteria, it takes about three to five years for you to start experiencing leprosy symptoms. In some cases, it can even take up to two decades. This is why it can be difficult for healthcare providers to determine when and where the infection took place.