The risk that a person will ever develop leprosy is very low so it is often not considered as a diagnosis. The presence of certain risk factors may help to identify a patient who should be screened for the disease.
Possible indications to screen a person for leprosy:
(1) family history of leprosy
(2) close personal contact with a person with untreated leprosy for a long period of time (once a person with leprosy is treated then the risk of transmission is very low)
(3) coming from a country where leprosy is endemic (see below)
(4) prolonged or repeated contact with nine-banded armadillos, especially saliva
The reasons why some people are more susceptible than others to leprosy are uncertain. But if there is a host defect then it may be hereditary and affect certain families.
Countries with high rates of leprosy: Angola, Brazil, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Federated States of Micronesia, India, Kiribati, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, Republic of Marshall Islands, United Republic of Tanzania
