18 People Diagnosed with Leprosy in Chitwan This Fiscal Year

Chitwan, April 6 – Eighteen individuals visiting hospitals in Chitwan for treatment of various illnesses have been diagnosed with leprosy in the current fiscal year, according to the District Public Health Office.

The majority of the new cases were reported from Bharatpur Metropolitan City, where 13 patients were identified. The remaining cases include four from Kalika Municipality and one from Madi Municipality. Among the 18 patients, 10 are men, and eight are women.

For comparison, the district recorded 43 leprosy cases last fiscal year, including 26 men.

TB/Leprosy Officer Jayaram Duwadi emphasized that leprosy is a curable disease. “While it can be treated effectively, delays in seeking medical care may lead to severe complications, including damage to the skin, nerves, limbs, and eyes,” he said.

Duwadi noted that low awareness about leprosy contributes to late diagnoses. “It’s an early symptom—a patch or lesion on the skin—that develops slowly, which often leads patients to seek treatment only after the disease has advanced, increasing the risk of disfigurement,” he explained.

The bacterium Mycobacterium leprae causes leprosy. Early signs include reddish patches on the skin and loss of sensation, and prompt medical attention can prevent long-term complications.