Leprosy is usually found in South Asia, Southeast Asia, tropical Africa and some areas of Latin America. Although it is occasionally found in the southern part of the United States, most persons diagnosed with leprosy in this country are immigrants or refugees who were infected in their native countries. In lepromatous leprosy, the skin lesions are many and widespread. In tuberculoid leprosy, the skin lesions are fewer and have little or no feeling. There may also be numbness in the hands, feet or other parts of the body.
Lepromatous leprosy is much more contagious than tuberculoid leprosy.
The range is from 9 months to 20 years. It usually takes 4 years from the time of exposure for symptoms of tuberculoid leprosy to appear and 8 years for symptoms of lepromatous leprosy to appear. Untreated mothers may pass the infection to their unborn children. Usually, after three months of treatment with dapsone or clofazimine, or after three days of treatment with rifampin, a person will no longer be infectious to others. No restrictions in employment or school attendance are indicated for persons whose disease is determined to be noninfectious.