leprosy

/'leprəsi/

Thân thiện

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chronic infectious disease: Leprosy is a long-term communicable disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract, and the eyes.
   • Characterized by skin lesions and nerve damage: The disease is known for causing granulomas (inflamed nodules) under the skin, leading to skin discoloration and a loss of sensation. If untreated, it can result in progressive and permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Leprosy is one of the oldest diseases known to humanity.
  • Modern medicine can effectively treat leprosy with multidrug therapy.
  • The stigma associated with leprosy has historically led to the social isolation of affected individuals.

Advanced Usage

• "To be diagnosed with leprosy": to be formally identified as having the disease.
  • After years of symptoms, he was finally diagnosed with leprosy.
• "The fight against leprosy": efforts to control, treat, and eliminate the disease.
  • International organizations continue the fight against leprosy in endemic regions.

Variants and Related Words

• Leprous (adj): relating to or suffering from leprosy.
  • Historical texts described leprous colonies.
• Leprologist (n): a doctor or scientist who specializes in the study and treatment of leprosy.

Synonyms

• Hansen's disease: The preferred modern term for leprosy, named after the physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, who discovered the causative bacterium.
  • Using the term 'Hansen's disease' helps reduce the stigma associated with the older name.

Related Phrases

• Leprosy bacillus: Refers specifically to the bacterium .
  • The leprosy bacillus multiplies very slowly.
• Leprosy reaction: A term for acute inflammatory episodes that can occur during the course of the disease or its treatment.
  • Managing a leprosy reaction is a critical part of patient care.

Related Idioms

• "A leper colony": (Historical/Idiomatic) A secluded settlement where people with leprosy were forced to live. This term reflects historical practice and stigma, not modern medical care.
  • The island once served as a leper colony.

Học thuật

Noun

1. chronic granulomatous communicable disease occurring in tropical and subtropical regions; characterized by inflamed nodules beneath the skin and wasting of body parts; caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae

Từ đồng nghĩa

• hansen's disease