In 2021, he noticed a loss of sensation in his right foot along with numb patches of discoloured skin on his hands. He consulted a private practitioner, but when his symptoms failed to improve, he was advised to visit a skin specialist. It was there that he was diagnosed with leprosy and referred to a government health clinic where he began a 12-month course of multidrug therapy (MDT). After completing treatment, Mr Ramaiah’s condition significantly improved.
While MDT cures leprosy and prevents transmission, some complications may persist after treatment. Two years on, Mr Ramaiah developed reddish skin lesions and pain in his left foot. He sought local medical advice but once again struggled to get an accurate diagnosis. He returned to the skin specialist who gave him a further six-month course of MDT, but his symptoms persisted.
He attended the Asifabad Lepra Referral Centre, where his symptoms were diagnosed as leprosy-related complications and he was prescribed a course of steroids. With follow-up treatment at Lepra’s clinic in Hyderabad, he made a full recovery within a year.
With improved physical health, Mr Ramaiah is happy that he can now walk comfortably, continue farming and provide for his family.
“I am happy as Lepra helped me to recover.”