DAVAO CITY—The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC)-Department of Dermatology recorded 35 new leprosy-patient admissions last year.
“They are from Davao City, some from Davao del Sur, we have patients from Cotabato others came from Surigao del Sur,” says Dr. Silvino Rey Pino, senior resident, Department of Dermatology SPMC during the recent Health Davao Media Forum at SM City Davao.
Pino said that leprosy being a tropically neglected disease is under-reported.
Dr. Donna May Sarenas also from the Department of Dermatology, SPMC, said there are hundreds of leprosy cases in the region, and SPMC is continually documenting new cases.
“Leprosy is not yet totally eradicated, that is why we still have this effort to, hopefully, eradicate the disease, and help patients who already have the [malady],” Sarenas said.
She added that leprosy, though transmissible, is not a highly-contagious disease.
“Si Mycobacterium leprae (the bacteria that causes leprosy) though infectious siya, we want the public to know that it is transmissible, but casual contact such as shaking hands or sharing a meal or talking to a person with leprosy is not enough, para mahawa ka (that you’d be infected),” Sarenas said.
Transmission of the bacteria only happens through prolonged close contact.
“Magkasama kayo ng matagal, exposed ka sa tao na matagal before ka mahawa (You were together for a long period of time, you were exposed for long period before you get infected),” Sarenas added.
Also, the SPMC dermatologist said that 95 percent of the population is immune to leprosy.
“Our immune system is capable of fighting it before we get sick,” Sarenas said.
Among the early signs of leprosy is the presence of skin lesions, which are raised or flat pigmented patches of skin which may be numb or a decrease of sensation.
Leprosy can be confirmed when the patient undergoes skin biopsy.
She said that they are advocating for education about manifestations of leprosy as many patients often misdiagnose the disease.
Sarenas says they also encouraged the families of people with symptoms diagnosed as leprosy to also undergo diagnosis.
A biopsy for leprosy costs around P4,200 which can be covered through medical assistance including Lingap.
Leprosy patients in the past were stigmatized as they were kept in isolation. Presently they can be treated with MDT or multi drug therapy which is given free to patients.
“This is given six to 12 months depending on the severity of the patient. At SPMC, we allot for patients so they can complete the medications,” Dr. Pino said, adding that one to two patients have graduated from the treatment last year, but several others are still undergoing medications. (PIA/RGA)
