Leprosy in the Middle Ages
Gabbi Eisenberg
What is Leprosy?
- "an infectious disease that causes severe, disfiguring skin sores and nerve damage in the arms and legs"
- bacterial infection that can now be cured with antibiotics
Present: How do you get leprosy?
- leprosy is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae
- coming into close contact with the mouth/nose droplets of someone with leprosy
- can take 3-5 years for symptoms to present themselves
Middle Ages: How do you get leprosy?
Present: How do you treat leprosy?
- antibiotics taken long-term to clear up the infection
- anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce swelling
- imbalance in one's humors
- red bile, or blood
- a result of "sexually improper behavior"
- seen as a punishment for "sexual promiscuity" or even for having sexual intercourse with a menstruating woman
Middle Ages: How do you treat leprosy?
http://www.academia.edu/1088287/Pharaohs_Bloodbath_Medieval_European_Jewish_Thoughts_about_Leprosy_Disease_and_Blood_Therapy
- isolation in leper hospitals/communities
- families would be separated
- sudden isolation often led to depression
- lepers could have visitors because the disease was thought to be so contagious
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/leprosy-symptoms-treatments-history
http://www.maggietron.com/med/epidemics.php