The first signs of leprosy are patches of skin which look paler than normal or sometimes nodules on the skin. It can be difficult to diagnose and sometimespeople are misdiagnosed. The Leprosy Mission is experienced in diagnosing leprosy and works with governments around the world

If leprosy is not treated it will attack the nerves that supply feeling to the hands, feet, eyes and parts of the face. This means that when people injure themselves they do not feel pain, so they don’t notice their injury. Untreated leprosy can also cause muscle weakness and paralysis, leading to ‘clawed hand’, when the fingers weaken and curl up; ‘foot-drop’, when the muscles that lift the feet no longer work properly. It can also lead to an inability to close the eyes due to paralysis of the eyelids. These effects put a person affected by leprosy at high risk of further damage.