Britannica Sources used in this answer

Can leprosy enter the body through the nose?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Sign reading Gandhiji Prem Nivas Leprosy Centre Titagarh conducted by Missionaries of Charity, with a crucifix above the sign on a decorated building facade. — leprosy The Gandhiji Prem Nivas is a center for people with leprosy that was established by Mother Teresa in 1958 and is run by the Missionaries of Charity in Titagarh, India.

Yes, it is possible for the leprosy bacillus to enter the human body through the nose. Scientific research, including experiments using mouse models, has demonstrated that the organism can be transmitted through the intact lining of the nose.1

While the exact mechanism of human-to-human transmission remains a subject of study, it is widely theorized by scientists that the bacterium enters the body either through the mucous membranes of the nose or through breaks in the skin. Once an infection is established, particularly in cases of lepromatous leprosy, the nasal passages can become heavily colonized with the bacilli, which may lead to the destruction of the nasal septum.23