Lexic.us

Definition of Leprosy

1. Noun. Chronic granulomatous communicable disease occurring in tropical and subtropical regions; characterized by inflamed nodules beneath the skin and wasting of body parts; caused by the bacillus Mycobacterium leprae.

Definition of Leprosy

1. n. A cutaneous disease which first appears as blebs or as reddish, shining, slightly prominent spots, with spreading edges. These are often followed by an eruption of dark or yellowish prominent nodules, frequently producing great deformity. In one variety of the disease, anæsthesia of the skin is a prominent symptom. In addition there may be wasting of the muscles, falling out of the hair and nails, and distortion of the hands and feet with destruction of the bones and joints. It is incurable, and is probably contagious.

Definition of Leprosy

1. Noun. (disease) An infectious disease caused by infection by ''Mycobacterium leprae''. ¹

2. Noun. In the Bible, a disease of the skin not conclusively identified, which can also affect clothes and houses. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Leprosy

1. a chronic disease characterized by skin lesions and deformities [n -SIES]

Medical Definition of Leprosy

1. Caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an obligate intracellular parasite that survives lysosomal enzyme attack by possessing a waxy coat. Leprosy is a chronic disease associated with depressed cellular (but not humoral) immunity, the bacterium requires a lower temperature than 37­C and thrives particularly in peripheral Schwann cells and macrophages. Only humans and the nine banded armadillo are susceptible. This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Leprosy

Literary usage of Leprosy

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences by Southern Society for Clinical Investigation (U.S.) (1894)
"leprosy In British Guiana; an Account of West Indian leprosy. London, 1881. Hoegh, K.: leprosy, with Special Reference to its Existence in Wisconsin. Rep. ..."

2. The Principles and Practice of Medicine: Designed for the Use of by William Osler, Thomas McCrae (1916)
"Evidence of a pre-Columbian existence of leprosy in America has been sought in the old pieces of Peruvian pottery representing deformities suggestive of ..."

3. Philadelphia Medical Times (1882)
"The patient was a native of New York State, and had never been out of the State ; had never been anywhere where leprosy prevails, and, as far as was known, ..."

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