Hansen's disease

• Numb, discolored skin patches (often lighter or reddish)
• Loss of sensation in affected skin areas
• Muscle weakness and paralysis, especially in hands and feet
• Nerve damage, leading to pain or loss of feeling
• Eye problems (e.g., dryness, reduced blinking) which can lead to blindness
• Nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and in severe cases, nasal bridge collapse
• Loss of eyebrows and eyelashes

Hansen's disease is transmitted primarily through respiratory droplets, such as from coughs or sneezes, during close and prolonged contact with an untreated infected person. It is not highly contagious, and most people have natural immunity. Casual contact like shaking hands or sitting next to someone does not spread the disease.

• Early diagnosis and prompt treatment of infected individuals to stop transmission.
• Chemoprophylaxis (preventive medicine) for close contacts of newly diagnosed patients.
• The BCG vaccine, primarily used for tuberculosis, offers some protection against Hansen's disease, particularly in children.