Doubt by Tushar mittal

is leprosy a social disease?

Answers

Answer by Isha Agarwal

Leprosy is a social disease. Leprosy is known as the Death before Death; a disease of unparalleled historical stigma and fear that has earned the appellation kushtha, ‘eating away.’ In 1948, Dr. Earnest Muir wrote that leprosy was the most dreaded disease—ironically, not because it kills, but rather, because it leaves its victims alive. Leprosy and humans have a long, bitter relationship. Social stigma has been associated with leprosy for much of history, which continues to be a barrier to self-reporting and early treatment. Leprosy stigma is a type of social stigma, a strong negative feeling towards a person with leprosy relating to their moral status in society.