What is the common name for leprosy?

Answer 1

Leprosy or Hansen's disease (HD), named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. Leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of the peripheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions are the primary external sign. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb and/or diseased as a result of the disease. Etymologically the word leprosy comes from ancient Greek λέπρα [léprā], "a disease which makes the skin scaly", in turn a nominal derivation of the verb λέπω [lépō], "to peel, scale off". The word came into the English language via Latin and Old French. The first attested English use is in the Ancrene Wisse, a 13th-century manual for nuns ("Moyseses hond..bisemde o þe spitel uuel & þuhte lepruse." The Middle English Dictionary, s.v., "leprous"). A roughly contemporaneous use is attested in the Anglo-Norman Dialogues of Saint Gregory, "Esmondez i sont li lieprous" (Anglo-Norman Dictionary, s.v., "leprus").

Historically, individuals with Hansen's disease have been known as lepers; however, this term is falling into disuse as a result of the diminishing number of leprosy patients and the pejorative connotations of the term. Because of the stigma to patients, some prefer not to use the word "leprosy," though the term is used by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

Answer 2

Leprosy is properly called Hansen's disease (HD), and was named after the physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, Hansens disease is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis.

Answer 3

It is leprosy. Also known as Hansen's disease.

Leprosy (also known Hansen's Disease) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that involves the skin and peripheral nerves.

Answer 4

the scientific name for Leprosy is mycobacterium leprae humanum

From Weeniebean

(If life gives you lemons, don't eat them!!)

Answer 5

Hansons disease. Though I think i have the spelling wrong it is phonetically correct :)

Answer 6

Genus: mycobacterium leprae

Species: mycobacterium lepromatosis

Answer 7

Hansen's disease is the name attributed to a Dr. around 1880's. It also has a number of other names: tuberculoid and lepromatous forms and a third rare form called histoid leprosy.

Answer 8

Hansen's disease

Answer 9

Hansen's Disease.