feb 23, 1873 - Leprosey

Description:

Mycrobacterium Leproe: Bacteria identified in 1873, can grow inside macrophages, thick cell wall - wall protecting bacteria, bacteria doubled every 12-16 days (very slow), can't grow in the lab (Human and armadillos are the only host).

Transmission:
- Unknown, transmission through nasal droplets, once bacteria come in through the lungs, special pac-man cells that normally eat pathogens take them up.

Risk Factors:
- Close contact, Endemic region: (India, china, japan, Nepal, Egypt

Symptoms:
- See patches on skin, could be white, slightly red, lesions, darker or lighter. Loss of sensation, tissue/nerve damage.

Types of Leprosy
- Tuburcoloid: Severe pain, muscle weakness, stiff skin/dry, loss of fingers and toes, vision loss.
- Lepromatous: Thick skin/face, nasal stiffness, bloody nose, laryngitis, collapsed nose, swelling lymph nodes, scarring of testes, enlargement of male biomass

Treatment: There are series of drugs that you can take over the course of months: Antibiotics

Pest houses/Leper Homes: Main ones in the USA were Lousiana and Hawaii