Leprosy

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/leprosy

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the causative microorganism?Mycobacterium leprae, an intracellular bacterium with a slow growth rate
2. What is the primary treatment modality?Multidrug therapy (MDT), typically comprising dapsone, rifampicin, and clofazimine
3. What is leprosy and what causes it?Leprosy is a disease that makes skin bumpy and can numb parts of the body. It is caused by a tiny germ called Mycobacterium leprae that lives inside our cells.
4. Why does leprosy make people feel numb?The germ attacks nerves in the skin and other parts of the body. When the nerves are damaged, people can lose feeling and may not notice cuts or burns.

Obligate Intracellular Pathogen: A microorganism that must live and reproduce inside the cells of a host organism.