01488nas a2200205   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653001400054653002800068653002100096100001600117700001900133700001100152700002100163245003600184300000900220490000700229520103200236022001401268       2015                            d10aleprosy10aAetiology10aEpidemiological aspects10aClinical aspects1 aKrishnan SP1 aKamalanathan A1 aJohn J1 aGopalakrishnan S00aA reminiscent review on leprosy  a8-130 v263 a<p>Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae and has been known since biblical times. It was first discovered by the Norwegian physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen in 1873. Despite being the first pathogen to be described, it is yet to be clearly understood owing to the uncultivable nature. Leprosy has been a major public health problem in tropical countries for many decades. Leprosy still persists as a significant burden on public health worldwide. This disease is transmitted by close and prolonged contact through inhalation of the bacilli contained in nasal secretion or through skin erosions. Early diagnosis of subclinical or earner-state leprosy has been problematic. There is a substantial decrease in the prevalence of leprosy, but it still persists in a few regions of the world, India being one of them. However, repost incidence from this region has not been reported in last few years. This review article aims to discuss the aetiology, epidemiology and clinical aspects of leprosy with a retrospective view.</p>
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