What Is Leprosy?

What causes leprosy?

Doctors aren’t exactly sure how leprosy spreads. Leprosy is not very contagious. You can’t catch it by touching someone who has the disease. Most cases of leprosy are from repeated and long-term contact with someone who has the disease. Doctors believe that leprosy might be passed from person to person. This happens by breathing in droplets that get into the air when infected people cough or sneeze. Most people who come in contact with M. leprae do not develop leprosy. However, people whose immune systems are weakened from chronic disease (such as diabetes, HIV, AIDS, or heart disease) may be more likely to develop leprosy. This is because their immune systems are not strong enough to fight the bacteria.

Children are more likely to develop leprosy than adults.