Nota: A tradução desta entrada está atualmente em revisão de qualidade, portanto parte do conteúdo é exibida temporariamente apenas em inglês.
Este verbete ainda não foi traduzido para o seu idioma, portanto o original é exibido abaixo.
leprosy
In a medical context, this term refers to a specific bacterial infection. While historically associated with extreme stigma and isolation, modern medicine treats it as a manageable condition. It is used strictly as a clinical diagnosis in professional healthcare settings.
When used figuratively, the word carries a heavy emotional weight of total social exclusion and permanent reputational damage. It describes a situation where a person is avoided not because of a physical ailment, but because their association with a scandal or taboo makes them "toxic" to others.
Meanings
An infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, which primarily affects the skin, peripheral nerves, and upper respiratory tract, often leading to muscle weakness and sensory loss.
The patient was treated for leprosy at a specialized clinic.
Examples
Leprosy is now treatable with a combination of antibiotics.
Leprosy is now treatable with a combination of antibiotics.
In the Middle Ages, those suffering from leprosy were often forced to live in isolated colonies.
The doctor explained that leprosy primarily attacks the peripheral nerves.
I wonder if the symptoms of leprosy were mistaken for other skin conditions back then.
He has become a kind of political leprosy within the party, and no one wants to be seen with him.
The scandal acted like a social leprosy, spreading quickly and ruining the reputations of everyone involved.
The scandal acted like a social leprosy, spreading quickly and ruining the reputations of everyone involved.
Is it true that leprosy can cause permanent nerve damage if not treated early?
She felt the cold touch of social leprosy as her former friends stopped returning her calls.