Leprosy

[Sarah]

A cutaneous disease which first appears as blebs or as reddish,shining, slightly prominent spots, with spreading edges. These areoften followed by an eruption of dark or yellowish prominent nodules,frequently producing great deformity. In one variety of the disease,anæsthesia of the skin is a prominent symptom. In addition there maybe wasting of the muscles, falling out of the hair and nails, anddistortion of the hands and feet with destruction of the bones andjoints. It is incurable, and is probably contagious.Mycobacteriumleprae, curable in most cases by therapy with a combination ofantibiotics, but cases resistant to therapy are increasing.

[Sarah]

A disease that I seem to think everyone has. Characterized by skin lesions and necrosis, it is decease that is fairly rare, and horribly terrifying, yet funny to laugh at. For instance the suggestion that something is leprosy that isn't. For instance someone coughs, they are said to be coming down with leprosy, or if someone looks old, well, then they must have leprosy. When the leaves fall off the trees it can be attributed to leprosy, rather than the changing of the seasons.

[Greta]

A type of leopard in Africa or Asia that will attack and kill you on sight within one millisecond.

[Tina]

Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae or Mycobacterium lepromatosis. It results in damage primarily to the peripheral nerves (the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord), skin, testes, eyes, and mucous membranes of the nose and throat.

Leprosy ranges from mild (with one or a few skin areas affected) to severe (with many skin areas affected and damage to many organs).
Rashes and bumps appear, the affected areas become numb, and muscles may become weak.
The diagnosis is suggested by symptoms and confirmed by a biopsy of the affected tissue.
Antibiotics can stop leprosy from progressing but cannot reverse any nerve damage or deformity.

Because without treatment, people with leprosy are visibly disfigured and often have significant disability, they have long been feared and shunned by others. Although leprosy is not highly contagious, rarely causes death, and can be effectively treated with antibiotics, it still has considerable social stigma attached to it. As a result, people with leprosy and their family members often have psychologic and social problems.
Worldwide, the number of leprosy cases is declining. During 2016, about 214,783 new cases were reported. In 2015, about 80% of the new cases occurred in India, Brazil, and Indonesia. In 2015, 178 new cases were reported in the United States.
In the United States, most leprosy cases occur in people who worked in or emigrated from developing countries where leprosy is common. Over 70% of cases occurred in seven states: Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, New York, Texas, and Louisiana. Some cases are thought to be related to contact with armadillos, which carry leprosy bacteria.
Leprosy can develop at any age but appears to develop most often in people aged 5 to 15 years or over 30.
It is estimated that more than 95% of people who are infected with Mycobacterium leprae do not develop leprosy because their immune system fights off the infection. People who develop leprosy may have genes that make them susceptible to the infection once they are exposed.

[Jessica]

A contagious disease that affects the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves, causing discoloration and lumps on the skin and, in severe cases, disfigurement and deformities. Leprosy is now mainly confined to tropical Africa and Asia.

[Luis Fok]

an infectious disease that damages a persons nerves and skin

[PussyCat]

Magic disease that befalls anyone who have ever tortured a [leprechaun]. [Leprechauns] are not part of Christian faith. Because of this, Jesus actively fought the green [tricksters] by healing their victims so they would convert to Christianity