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What name is now used as a synonym foe leprosy?

Hansen's disease is the name of this chronic (long-term) infection that damages nerve endings. Hansen's disease is characterized by progressive wounds and sores. It is caused by a microorganism, Mycabacterium leprae, that is transmitted through airborne respiratory droplets (drops of moisture exhaled through the nose or mouth). The disease is not highly contagious; it generally only spreads between people who are in continuous close contact. Antimicrobial drugs, such as sulfones (dapsone in particular), are used to treat the disease.

Sources: Diseases and Disorders Handbook, pp. 440-41; Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, p. 127.

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