History of leprosy
Leprosy (leprosy) is one of the most cruel diseases known to mankind for a long time and well studied by official medicine. The history of leprosy dates back to the Old Testament, leprosy patients are described in the ancient Indian Vedas and the laws of Manu, medical books of ancient China and Egyptian papyri. For a long time, the only cure for leprosy was isolation. Patients with leprosy became outcasts, people did everything possible to protect lepers from society, later specialized hospitals appeared for them – leper colonies.
From African countries, leprosy was brought to Greece, and from Greece it entered Europe. The Crusades in Palestine caused the spread of pathogens in Western Europe. By the XIV century, the incidence among Europeans reached its maximum, after which it gradually began to decline. Leprosy ceased to be widespread and persisted only in certain regions: in the Mediterranean, in some regions of Russia and in Scandinavia.
In America, leprosy was brought by slaves who entered the country from African colonies.
In the 80s of the XX century, 12-14 million patients with leprosy were registered worldwide. Although modern medicine has sufficient means to treat leprosy, for some countries the fight against the spread of this disease remains an urgent problem. Countries that are disadvantaged in this regard include India, Indonesia, Brazil, countries located in Central Africa, Bangladesh. According to official statistics, more than 213 people suffer from leprosy today, most of whom live in Asian or African countries.
Patients with leprosy
In ancient times, leprous patients were subject to harsh laws that deprived them of almost all rights and contributed to the maximum distance from society. Moreover, the law was harsh in relation to representatives of any social class, he did not spare even the monarchs.
Patients did not have the right to inherit, they could not be in public places (market, church, tavern), they were forbidden to wash in running water, eat food with healthy people, and touch their things. When talking with people, the patient had to stand in the wind.
With the advent of leper colonies, the living conditions of leprosy patients became more civilized. Today, the leper colony is a medical institution whose duties include identifying carriers of the infection, isolating them, treating leprosy, and carrying out preventive measures.
Leper colonies are most often located in rural areas, in regions where the disease is endemic. On the territory of this institution there is a hospital, outpatient and epidemiological departments. People under treatment live in separate houses, if they wish, they are provided with plots of land for agricultural work, as well as the opportunity to visit craft workshops.
Patients with leprosy are in the leper colony for months or years, depending on the severity of the disease. For service personnel, a separate area is provided for living right on the territory of the medical institution.
In some countries, leprosy patients are treated without hospitalization.
World Leprosy Day. Leprosy in Russia
World Leprosy Day falls on January 30th. Today, this disease does not cause such fear as in the old days. In America, all leper colonies have already been closed, here patients are treated only on an outpatient basis. In Russia, there are several cases of leprosy infection every year. In our country, the system of leper colonies is still preserved, but the number of patients is noticeably reduced. Here you can meet people who became infected before the introduction of new treatments for leprosy and recently infected, those who are recovering quickly.
Leprosy in Russia was practically defeated after the implementation of treatment regimens based on the scientific work of Professor Nikolai Goloshchapov.