<unk>  factors for contracting<unk>  include close contact with an untreated, active multibacillary disease patient with the subtype of lepromatous<unk> , living in an endemic region (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), age between 5 and 15 as well as over 30, Armadillo contact, tattoos, and genetic variants of the NOD2-mediated signaling pathway.
Close contacts with<unk>  patients increases the<unk>  of contracting the disease.
lepromatous<unk>  patients have a higher<unk>  of transmitting the disease.
Immunosuppressed patients have a higher<unk>  of being infected by the mycobacteria. In the particular case of HIV patients, the infection by the HIV has not been noted to increase vulnerability for development of<unk> . Additionally some studies have reported activation of latent mycobacteria leprae with exacerbation of previous lesions, once the antiretroviral therapy is started, possibly due to reconstitution of the immune response against the bacteria.
Armadillo's serve as a reservoir for disease, and armadillo contact increases the<unk>  of transmission of disease.
The immune response mounted against the mycobacteria has both innate and acquired components. It has been noted that variants of the NOD2-mediated signaling pathway, a regulator of the innate component, have a higher<unk>  of developing<unk> .
There is a bimodal distribution in the incidence of<unk> , with an increased incidence between the ages of 5 and 15 years, and than another increase after the age of 30.
People living in endemic regions along with poor-higiene and poor nutritional status are at increased<unk>  of contracting<unk> .
These countries include:
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
The bacteria have been transferred during tattooing in India.
Cases of vertical transmission from the mother have been reported.
Leprosy risk factors
Smallpox risk factors
Onychomycosis risk factors
Stevens-Johnson syndrome risk factors
Syphilis risk factors
Chickenpox risk factors
Skin cancer risk factors
Neurosyphilis risk factors