Risk Factors Risk Factors

Living in Living in High-risk High-risk Areas Areas

You may be at a higher risk of contracting Leprosy if it is prevalent in your area or if you have prolonged contact with individuals who have not yet been treated for it.

In 2018, 71% of cases were reported in Southeast Asia. The Americas and Africa accounted for 15% and 10% of new cases respectively, with India, Indonesia, and Brazil having the highest number of cases.

Gene

Ethnicity Ethnicity & Age & Age

It is believed that people who contract Leprosy have genes that make them more prone to infection once they are exposed to the bacterium.

The tendency to be susceptible to Leprosy appears to be inherited, but the specific pattern of inheritance is not fully understood yet.

People of Asian and Pacific Islander descent are more likely to contract Leprosy

Also, children are more likely to contract Leprosy than adults.

IImmunity mmunity

Status Status

Individuals with weakened immune systems due to chronic conditions such as HIV, diabetes, or heart diseases may be more susceptible to the infection than healthy individuals.