Leprosy update 1988.

An informative film about the knowable prognoses of different types of leprosy. A modern scientist studies slides which may include leprosy bacteria. Leprosy is endemic in many developing countries, but formerly the disease was present in Europe. Historically, two doctors in a hospital in Bergen characterised the disease; they published a book (described as an atlas) which meant that ordinary skin conditions and syphilis were not confused with leprosy. Leprosy bacilli was eventually isolated and identified. Modern scientists are engaged in diagnosing the disease at its earliest stage; it is a spectrum disease. Medical diagrams aid in understanding the levels of infection dependent on the body's natural defences. The disease targets the nerves especially in the hands, feet and trunk. Nerve damage is described via medical diagrams. Treatment (chemotherapy; DDS) has been effective since the 1940s. Drug development in tuberculosis had been priortised above treatment for leprosy. Experimental mice and armadillos have helped scientists understand leprosy. Due to drug resistence, multi drug therapy was initiated. Patients are supervised in their monthly dose of drugs and cases have decreased. A study in Malawi looked at the incidences of leprosy; this was followed up in 1986. The data was sent to London. Armadillos were used to harvest m leprae with research into a possible vaccine. LEPRA was involved in an initiative to vaccinate some of the Malawian population in tandem with a BCG vaccination (against TB). Leprosy is not especially contagious, although incidences at the time of the film were increasing. A community in Europe (either Italy or Greece) are free to leave the leprosarium and go about their everyday lives. A good supply of shoes is known to help with ulceration. Surgery to the tendons in the eye lids involves the transplantation of tendons from elsewhere in the body. A LEPRA van visits a community; a doctor shows photographic slides.