A study to assess the impact of leprosy on quality of life among leprosy patients in government rehabilitation home at paranur

Leprosy is the oldest disease known to man. The earliest written records describing true leprosy came from India around the period 600.Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an acid fast, rod- shaped bacillus. The disease mainly affects the skin, the peripheral nerves mucosa of the upper respiratory tract and also the eyes. A total of 13 countries reported zero cases in 2013. Global statistics show that 206107 (96%) of new Leprosy cases were reported from 14 countries and only 4% of new cases from the rest of the world. The age-old stigma associated with the disease remains on obstacle to self-reporting and early treatment in which patients will not hesitate to come forward for diagnosis and treatment at any health facility must be created.