face and limbs become apparent. This may cause the victim to face stigma and alienation from society.

Leprosy is infectious, and transmitted in a manner similar to ‘cold’; the only silver lining, that it is not as contagious as cold. People living many years in leprosy endemic areas, especially where fresh cases of leprosy are detected, carry a greater risk of catching the infection.

Leprosy is classified into several types based on the bacterial load present in the lesions, the extent of skin and nerve involvement and based on the presence of deformities. Several types of classification exist, like Madrid classification, Ridley & Jopling classification Indian Classification, WHO classification, Field Worker's Classification etc. The type of the disease is a reflection of the immune status of the host.

Today, we know that leprosy is curable. Antibiotics are capable of annihilating the bacteria and within a few months of treatment, the disease can be completely cured. Patients can avoid several complications, if the disease is diagnosed early. In the event of complications, advanced medical treatment is capable of reversing nerve damage in some cases; today, even in the worst case scenario of non-reversibility of nerve damage, and a certain amount of disability, the person can be assisted with evolved rehabilitation methods, to help the victim start afresh.

One of the important aspects of leprosy prevention is to enable early diagnosis and effective treatment of infected individuals, which will go a long way in controlling the spread of infection. Further, people who are in close contact with victims should be tested for leprosy, followed by annual check ups for a period of five years. A crucial facet of prevention, also involves educating people about the disease.

It is important to adopt an integrated approach towards infected individuals that includes healthcare, education, rehabilitation and training
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