Medical Dermatology
Leprosy in Islamabad
Diagnosis and multidrug therapy
In plain terms
Understanding leprosy
What it is
Leprosy is a slow bacterial infection of the skin and the nerves, caused by an organism related to the one that causes tuberculosis. It is curable with a standard course of treatment. The disability people associate with it comes from untreated nerve damage rather than from the infection itself.
Why it happens
It spreads through prolonged close contact with an untreated case, usually over months or years, and through droplets rather than touch. Most people exposed to it never develop it, because their immune system clears it. It is uncommon in Pakistan now but it has not gone, which is why it stays on this list.
What you might notice
A pale or coppery patch of skin that has lost sensation, so it does not register light touch, heat or a pinprick. Thickened nerves that can be felt at the elbow or knee. Numbness or weakness in the hands or feet. Painless burns and cuts, because the warning system has stopped working.
How it is treated
Multidrug therapy, a fixed combination taken for six to twelve months depending on the type, available through the national programme. A person stops being infectious within days of starting. Nerve inflammation during treatment is watched for and treated, because that is what protects function.
When to get it seen
Any patch of skin that has lost sensation should be examined, and that on its own is reason enough to come. Early treatment prevents nerve damage. Damage that has already occurred does not reverse, so timing genuinely decides the outcome here.
Questions about leprosy
How long before leprosy shows a result?
6–12 months of therapy. Skin is slow, and anyone quoting you a faster number is selling something.
Who will actually be treating me?
Associate Professor Dr. Lubna Rani Faysal. MBBS (Gold Medalist), FCPS (Dermatology), MHPE, 13 years in dermatology, and Associate Professor of Dermatology, Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi.
Do I need to be seen in clinic, or is video enough?
Send a description and a clear photograph on WhatsApp and she will tell you which. Anything needing close examination or a procedure has to be in clinic, tuesday – saturday, 4:00 – 7:00 pm at F8 Markaz, Islamabad.
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Book your leprosy consultation
Tuesday – Saturday, 4:00 – 7:00 PM at F8 Markaz, Islamabad. Or ask first on WhatsApp at +92 370 549 7242.
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