For decades the leprosy infectious disease was considered defeated, now a new case has been discovered – the “Kroon” spoke to the person involved.
The first symptoms had felt themselves a half years ago, but nobody knew what treacherous disease behind it. “It started with slight paralysis on the soles of the feet. In the beginning I thought it would disappear automatically. But the pigeons were more and more over time,” recalls the more than 60-year-old from Vienna.
The deafness walked from the ankles and knees to the elbows and back of the hand. “My ears and the nose were recently hit,” he says. The leprosic patient went from doctor to doctor -also a number of alternative doctors were one of them, the real reason for the worrying symptoms was hidden for a long time.
Friendly doctor hit the stamp with the diagnosis remotely
The secret was only revealed in April by a phone call with a friend of Berlin. “When I told her what I was like, her suspicion immediately fell into Lepra. After her remote diagnosis, I visited the AKH Vienna. Exact studies specifically aimed at the bacteria of the infectious disease,” reports the first suspicion, “reports the Globetrotter, who works in the travel industry.
The Viennese fell from all clouds: “The last known cases were long ago. I thought this disease died in Europe.” What was amazing in the patient led to great interest of the specialized staff in the Vienna Akh. “Many doctors came to me and wanted to know details about the course of the disease and my health status.”
Profession often led patients to the tropics
According to experts, the leprosy leprosy is the most severe form of disease, bacteria can multiply and spread over bloodstream, nerve tissue, mucous membranes and the lymphatic system throughout the body. “Rash, spread over half of the body are further effects,” says the patient. At the same time it is relieved. After a long period of uncertainty, he now knows at least what ordinary disease he is dealing with. It remains doubtful when and where the guide could be infected: “I was often professionally in the tropics, Africa or other remote areas of the world. In theory it could have happened everywhere.”
Recovery will probably take a long time
As long as the incubation period can last, the recovery must now be spent on recovery. Accompanied by regular studies in the Vienna AKH, the patient started therapy two weeks ago. In concrete terms, he has to take three very special antibiotics, some of which are not so easy to keep in Austria: “Now I need enough peace and I have to be patient.”
Family members are also being investigated
With the extraordinary case, the Tropical Institute and the Ministry of Health have long been entrusted. The risk of infection, which is only given in exceptional cases, has been excluded at the latest since the therapy. Family members were investigated days ago, the results are not yet available. The hopeful patient: “I’m glad I can kiss my loved ones again soon.”
Leprae is one of the oldest diseases ever in the world ever, even in the Old Testament of the Bible, the previously called “Mauel” are called in writing. The leprosy raged throughout Europe, especially in the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The origin of the disease can still not be fully explained to this day, according to scientific assumptions it has been created in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. In any case, the trigger is the bacterium mycobacterium leprosy. The transmission from person to person is only possible with a longer contact – so there is no reason to panic.
If the bacterium buzzes in the body, it can take up to 20 years before the disease broke out. However, the incubation period is usually “only” three to seven years. Lepra makes itself recognizable early with light or red spots on the skin. If the infection remains untreated, this can come to the occurrence of numbness for visual disruptions and even the distortion of fingers, toes, ears or nose – in the worst case, death follows because of the subsequent infections. Thanks to the progress in medicine, Lepra has been completely cured for more than 35 years, but around 180,000 cases still occur worldwide every year. Rural areas in Southeast Asia, China and tropical regions in Africa are the most affected.
In Austria, a refuting caused suspicion in Salzburg for the last commotion in 2015. Thus, the first domestic case of the disease existed in decades.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
