Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by a bacterium named Mycobacterium leprae. The disease mainly affects the skin and the peripheral nerves causing significant deformity if not treated early. Sri Lanka is one of the many Southeast Asian countries where the disease is still a significant public health challenge. Upon inspecting the trends of the disease for the last 15 years, it was observed that the leprosy new case detection rates were fluctuating around 10 per 100,000 population in Sri Lanka. Grade 2 deformity rates which showed a downward trend from 2001 now seem to be fluctuating around 10.1 % (2015) indicating a late diagnosis of the disease. Child rates have been fluctuating around 10% from 2001 to 2014 and it was 11.3% in 2015 indicating ongoing transmission. But 15% of Leprosy cases among school children were found during 2022.

Things you should know about Leprosy (Contact , Central Leprosy clinic during working hours from Monday to Friday 8am to 4 pm, Saturday 8 am to 12 noon) Telephone 0112696444

• Do you have one or more acne-like spots for a long time? This could be leprosy.
• Does the child have a light colored spot on his skin? This could be leprosy.
• Do you have stuffy face for a long time, swollen ear lobes, tingling in your hands and feet? This could be leprosy.
• Numbness in the hand, difficult to eat a mouthful of rice, do delicate work with the hand? If you are not a long-term diabetic, this can be leprosy.
• Leprosy is not a hereditary disease. But more than one person in a family may have the disease. So get everyone in the family checked
• Leprosy is transmitted through the respiratory tract, not through contact.
• A slowly growing white patch on the face with or without tenderness may be leprosy. Immediately refer to the nearest dermatology clinic
• A beautiful life without leprosy. By taking proper supplements, you will also avoid the weaknesses. Contribute to eradicating leprosy from society.