Abrigos de Don Rodrigo de Menezes (Salvador de Bahia). Every patient disposes a room and looks for pastime. Cushions of colourf
Abrigos de Don Rodrigo de Menezes (Salvador de Bahia). Every patient disposes a room and looks for pastime. Cushions of colourful strips are very traditional in the country. Leprosy is one of the classic scourges of ancient times. But it's far from being consigned to history - with over 200,000 new cases reported each year. Although it's easily treated with antibiotics, people living in remote communities often go undiagnosed and are left with permanent damage. Now a new, cheap test - "the cost of one ice-cream" - could help doctors to stop the disease in its tracks. Celio Marques was 16 years old when he first noticed pain and weakness in his hands and feet. He was showing the early signs of leprosy but was treated for rheumatism for three years, allowing the disease to spread. When the correct diagnosis finally came at the age of 20, Marques thought his life was over. Continue reading the main story Leprosy Facts Leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. India has the highest number of infections, followed by Brazil. Leprosy is difficult to contract and it is not known exactly how it is transmitted - although prolonged close contact with an infected person is needed. An estimated 95% of the population are naturally immune to the disease. To avoid antibiotic resistance, leprosy is treated with multiple drugs over a period of 6-12 months. In the past two decades, global prevalence of leprosy has been reduced by almost 90%. "Back then, the doctor told me - you have a disease that kills, that makes your limbs fall off. You have to go away. I was desperate and tried to kill myself. But then I learned what the disease really is and how to treat it." Thirty years have passed and Mr Marques, who lives in Rio de Janeiro, is fully cured of the disease. But he's had to learn to live with the damage caused by the late diagnosis. His fingers are permanently bent inwards and he has reduced movement in his hands and feet. He lost his eyebrows
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