Leprous means "skin" or "hide," and refers to a leprosy patient's skin. They are afflicted with Mycobacterium leprae, a long-lasting bacteria. The skin, nose, eyes, nerves, and upper respiratory tract are the most affected. The disease was once called Hansen's disease after Dr. Niels Ryge Hansen, who first described it. Hide here refers to a leprosy patient's hands and feet. They are also often blind or nearly so. Because of this, lepers were once isolated in monasteries or convents where they could be cared for by others who had been infected themselves. Today, lepers are usually treated by doctors who use antibiotics to control the infection and nerve painkillers. The word "leprous" is also used to describe any disease that causes severe damage to the skin, such as psoriasis or eczema. Leprosy has nothing to do with hair or nail growth. Rather, it affects the skin tissue itself. People can become infected with leprosy if they come into contact with the urine, sweat, or tears of someone who has the disease. The bacteria live in these fluids and can be passed from person to person via skin-to-skin contact. The virus that causes leprosy cannot be seen with the naked eye but can be detected using laboratory tests.