18 Leprosy Cases Detected in Chitwan Since Shrawan

Chitwan. Eighteen patients seeking treatment in Chitwan have been diagnosed with leprosy. Since Shrawan, the highest number of infections has been reported in Bharatpur Metropolitan City.

According to Jayaram Duwadi, Tuberculosis and Leprosy Officer at the Public Health Office, 13 cases were identified in Bharatpur Metropolitan City, four in Kalika Municipality, and one in Madi Municipality. Among these, 10 are male and eight are female. In the previous fiscal year, 43 cases were recorded, including 26 men, 16 women, and one child under the age of 14.

Officer Duwadi explained that leprosy is a communicable disease caused by the microscopic bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. He noted that the initial sign is the appearance of pale or slightly reddish patches on the skin that lack sensation when touched.

He added that symptoms include nodules on the face and earlobes, thickened or shiny skin, and the loss of eyebrows, which can eventually lead to disability.

Suspicions of leprosy should arise if symptoms such as persistent tingling in the hands and feet, nerve swelling or pain, numbness, and muscle weakness occur due to nerve damage, he stated.

He further explained that leprosy is categorized into Multibacillary (MB) and Paucibacillary (PB) based on the bacterial load. Patients with MB leprosy must take medication regularly for 12 months, while those with PB leprosy require six months of treatment.