Leprosy - Co-existing factors
Poverty: Poverty could increase the risk of the disease as it results in poor sanitation, lack of education and awareness among the people.
Genetic: There is evidence of genetic effect against the leprae bacillus infection. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR2) is associated with the tuberculoid type of infection and HLA-MTI and HLA-DQ1 with lepromatous disease.
Traveling to underdeveloped countries: It is confined mainly but not exclusively to the under developed areas of the tropics and the southern hemisphere. South, South East Asia and Brazil are the most affected area.
Close association with infected person: Leprosy though is not a highly communicable disease, can spread to people who are in close contact with the infected person.
