Leprosy is a disease caused by bacteria. It can cause permanent skin damage if left untreated. Sores form on the skin and usually do not heal until months later. Leprosy is not highly contagious. Leprosy can cause skin lesions, muscle weakness, and nerve damage.
Treatment for leprosy includes taking a combination of different antibiotics. Common drug classes used to treat leprosy are sulfones and thalidomides.