Doctors cure leprosy, but sometimes they forget the social and psychological side. Patients use to be affectionate and sensitiv
Doctors cure leprosy, but sometimes they forget the social and psychological side. Patients use to be affectionate and sensitive because of the refusal that have suffered along their lives. In interviews I conducted with 43 people affected by leprosy in Rio de Janeiro, 41% had received a misdiagnosis of their condition. Healthcare workers who are not trained in leprosy diagnosis mistook skin patches and nerve problems for various ailments, including diabetes, vitiligo, allergies, skin funguses, arthritis, and syphilis. Some patients were given treatment for other conditions and spent years trying to get a correct diagnosis. In a nation where there are so many new cases of leprosy every year, there is no logical reason why all healthcare professionals do not receive mandatory training in leprosy diagnosis, which is relatively simple. For example, Boy and Girl Scouts in several endemic countries have been trained as volunteers in leprosy screening efforts. A person with a depigmented spot on the skin should be asked to close their eyes while another person lightly taps the spot with the tip of a pen and asks if he or she can feel anything.
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