Physical Disabilities in Leprosy: Some Contemporary Basic Aspects

Abstract

Leprosy consequences are huge regarding the psychological, social and economical aspects, although the rate of related lethality is low. The most important of them is the neuritis, which occurs associated with the leprosy reaction symptoms, triggered by delayed hyper sensibility, which determines and explains the therapeutic option based on immune suppressors combined with continuous antimicrobial chemotherapy. Mechanisms probably involved are explored at the same time as research perspectives worldwide are considered. In this context, it is pointed that the main challenge for the knowledge and intervention on Physical Disabilities in Leprosy is to overcome the semantic disagreements as well to understand the differences and traps protocols may provide.

The influence of assistive technology on occupational performance and satisfaction of leprosy patients with grade 2 disabilities

“…If these conditions are not adequately treated during their early manifestations, they may progress to permanent sequelae and/ or disabilities (2) . Since 2001, a three-grade classification system has been used to grade impairments of eyes, hands, and feet (3) . Grade 0 involves no leprosy-related impairments; grade 1 involves loss or decrease in sensation; and grade 2 involves the eyes (lagophthalmos, ectropion, trichiasis, central corneal opacity, or visual acuity lower than 0.1 or an inability to count the examiner's fingers at a distance of 6m); hands (trophic and/ or traumatic lesions, clawed hands, bone reabsorption, or wrist drop); and feet (trophic and/or traumatic lesions, clawed feet, bone reabsorption, foot drop, or ankle contracture) (3) .…”