« Click on a body part to see what leprosy does

The Face

Leprosy deforms its victims' faces.
Leprosy bacilli can enter the mucous lining of the nose, leading to internal damage and scarring. Eventually the damage causes the nose to collapse.

The Eyes

Leprosy robs its victims of their eyesight.
When leprosy affects facial nerves, a person loses the blinking reflex of the eye, which eventually leads to dryness, ulceration, and blindness. The cornea can also become numb, so the person doesn't know when dirt or particles cause irritation.

The Hands

Leprosy mutilates its victims' hands.
Leprosy bacilli attack peripheral nerves, leading to a loss of feeling. Patients, like this Indian man, lose the automatic withdrawal reflexes which protect against hot or sharp objects. Burns and other wounds become infected and tissues and bones are eventually eroded.

The Feet

Leprosy destroys its victims' feet.
When leprosy attacks nerves in the legs, it interrupts the communication of sensation in the feet. The feet then become subject to bone damage and deformity through unnoticed wounds and infection. Serious infections can lead to amputations.