Leprosy Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases Department of Dermatology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
J Dermatol. 2012 Feb;39(2):121-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1346-8138.2011.01370.x. Epub 2011 Oct 4.
Leprosy has affected humans for millennia and remains an important health problem worldwide, as evidenced by nearly 250 000 new cases detected every year. It is a chronic infectious disorder, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Recent advances in basic science have improved our knowledge of the disease. Variation in the cellular immune response is the basis of a range of clinical manifestations. The introduction of multidrug therapy has significantly contributed to a decrease in the prevalence of the disease. However, leprosy control activities, including monitoring and prevention programs, must be maintained.
麻风病已经影响人类几千年了，仍然是全世界的一个重要健康问题，每年发现近 25 万例新病例就是明证。它是一种慢性传染病，由麻风分枝杆菌引起，主要影响皮肤和外周神经。基础科学的最新进展提高了我们对这种疾病的认识。细胞免疫反应的变化是一系列临床表现的基础。多药物疗法的引入极大地促进了疾病的流行率的下降。然而，麻风病控制活动，包括监测和预防计划，必须继续进行。
