01118nas a2200205   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002653001700043653001100060653002500071653002600096653001400122653001200136653001500148100001500163245004300178856007700221050001900298520059500317       2013                            d10aTransmission10aStigma10aPsychosocial aspects10aPeripheral neuropathy10aMorbidity10aLeprosy10aDisability1 aSaunderson00aCurrent challenges in leprosy research  uhttps://academic.oup.com/trstmh/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/trstmh/trt058  aSAUNDERSON20133 a<p>Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae; it is uncommon but widespread globally and remains an important cause of peripheral neuropathy, especially in poor communities. An important reason to pay continued attention to leprosy is that, in contrast to many more common causes of disability, the impairments caused by leprosy are preventable through quite simple interventions, if identified early enough. In addition, it is well recognized that the stigma and psychosocial problems associated with leprosy cause immense suffering that is not easily measured.</p>