Abstract

Hansens disease or leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease involving skin, peripheral nerves, nasal mucosal and capable of effecting any organ.The disease reflects immune status of host, chemotherapy and host resistance. Leprosy is a disease known from vedic times in India and biblical times in middle east¹.Leprosy patients was considered unclean and social outcast. Bacillus was discovered by GERHARD HENRIK ARMAUER HANSEN in 1873. It was the first bacterium to be identified as causing disease in humans.Numerous leprosaria (leper hospitals) sprang up in middle ages.The first recorded leprosarium was in Harbledown. Those suffering from leprosy were considered more holy thanordinary persons.Tuberculoid leprosy is characterized by a small number of skin lesions, few bacilli in lesions, and development and recruitment of Tlymphocytes .At the other extreme, lepromatous leprosy is characterized by a larger number of skin lesions, clinically apparent infiltration of peripheral nerves and skin lesions by a large number of bacilli, and the presence of fewer T lymphocytes in lesions whose effector mechanisms are  unable to control the infection^2,3.