Patients with leprosy the history of leprosy in Russia

The history of leprosy

Leprosy (leprosy) is among the most violent diseases, have long been known to mankind and well-studied conventional medicine. The history of leprosy originates from the times of the old Testament, patients with leprosy are described in the ancient Indian Vedas and laws of Manu, the ancient medical books of China and the Egyptian papyri. For a long time the only treatment for leprosy was the isolation. Patients with leprosy became outcasts, people did everything possible to protect the lepers from the society, and later for them there are special hospitals – leper colony.

From Africa leprosy was imported to Greece and from Greece penetrated into Europe. The Crusades in Palestine was the cause of the spread of the pathogen in Western Europe. To the XIV century, the incidence among Europeans peaked, and then gradually began to decline. Leprosy has ceased to be widespread and remained only in some regions in the Mediterranean, in some regions of Russia and in Scandinavia.

In America leprosy brought slaves that entered the country from the African colonies.

In the 80-ies of XX century throughout the world was was 12 to 14 million leprosy patients. Although modern medicine has sufficient means for the treatment of leprosy, for some countries the fight against the spread of the disease remains an urgent problem. To dysfunctional in this regard, the countries include India, Indonesia, Brazil, a country located in Central Africa, and Bangladesh. According to official statistics, leprosy today affects more than 213 thousand people, most of whom live in Asia or Africa.

Patients with leprosy

In ancient times leprosy patients were distributed harsh laws that deprived them of virtually all their rights and contributed to alienation from society. And the law was severe against the representatives of any social class, he did not spare even monarchs.

Patients had no right of inheritance could not be in public places (market, Church, restaurant), they were forbidden to wash in running water, to eat together with healthy people, to touch their things. Talking to people, the patient had to stand in the wind.

With the advent of the leper colony living conditions of leprosy patients have become more civilized. Today leprosy is a medical institution, the duties of whichinclude the identification of carriers of infection, their isolation, treatment of leprosy, as well as the preventive measures.

The leper colony is often located in rural areas, in regions where the disease is endemic. On the territory of the institution is the hospital, outpatient and epidemiological Department. Undergoing treatment people live in separate houses, if you wish, they are provided with land for agricultural work, as well as the opportunity to visit craft shops.

Patients with leprosy are in a leper colony, months, or years – depending on the severity of the disease. For staff there is a separate area for living right in the territory of the medical institution.

In some countries leprosy patients are treated without hospitalization.

The world day against leprosy. Leprosy in Russia

World day of fight against leprosy falls on January 30. Today this disease does not cause such fear as in the old days. America has closed all the leper colony, here the sick are treated only on an outpatient basis. In Russia every year there are several cases of infection with leprosy. In our country the system of the leper colony still exists, but the number of patients is considerably reduced. Here you can meet people who became infected prior to the introduction into practice of new methods of treatment of leprosy and recently infected, those who quickly goes on the amendment.

Leprosy in Russia was practically defeated after the introduction of treatment regimens based on the scientific work of Professor Nikolay Goloshchapov.