21st century shocker. Middle Ages disease, leprosy, resurfaces in a Texas resident
It all started quite innocuously. The resident of Texas was facing minor skin problems at the outset. A rash formed on his body, accompanied by persistent itching, but doctors found nothing of immediate concern.
12:15 PM EST, January 16, 2024
However, when symptoms in the man in his twenties did not diminish, he was referred for comprehensive examinations following another visit to the dermatologist. Alongside the rash, he began to experience hand numbness and a tingling sensation throughout his body.
The doctors were taken aback when the samples were analyzed in the laboratory. It emerged that the man was afflicted with leprosy, and his initial vexations started to escalate. His numbing hands, a symptom of the disease, began to look oddly like… claws.
Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, as they mitigate the disability and adverse psychosocial effects of leprosy, and lower the risk of transmitting the disease - Dr. Aidan Filley from Texas A&M University explains.
It also turned out that the Texas patient had previously resided on an Oceanic island, where leprosy continues to be endemic. Although he had moved to the US four years earlier, the unveiling of the disease did not astonish the doctors, given his past.
The doctors ultimately administered antibiotic treatments. The man also underwent a surgical procedure on his tendon, with the aim of restoring hand mobility.
