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COMMENTARY
Leprosy and House of the Dragon
21 September 2022: Leprosy has been in the news a lot recently. Why? In HBO's latest series, House of The Dragon, the Targaryean King Viserys has been suffering from a mysterious illness. As the season continues, the King's symptoms appear to be worsening. Nearly four years pass between episodes 1 and 4. At the beginning of the series, his symptoms appear to be nothing more than a small injury that refuses to heal. By episode 4, we see Viserys in a bathtub. His back is covered with sores and he is also missing two fingers. Is it greyscale, haemophilia or something else?
The actor Paddy Considine who plays King Viserys says:
The actor Paddy Considine who plays King Viserys says:
House of Dragon's Targaryean King Viserys - copyright ALMAY
He’s actually suffering from a form of leprosy. His body is deteriorating; his bones are deteriorating. He is not actually old. He’s still a young man in there. He’s just, unfortunately got this thing that’s taken over his body. It becomes a metaphor for being king, and the stress and strain that it puts on you, and what it does to you physically, what it does to you mentally.”
Clare McIntosh, Chief Executive Officer, St Francis Leprosy Guild
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Whilst the fictional depiction of greyscale is different in many ways to leprosy, we welcome the resurgence of interest in leprosy from this story in Sky TV's House of the Dragon. Many think that leprosy is a disease of the past, but approximately 200,000 people continue to contract leprosy each year. Until the 1980s, there was no cure for leprosy, and a diagnosis would lead to a lifetime of suffering and isolation from society (due to stigma). Fortunately, today leprosy can be cured with antibiotics. But people with leprosy can continue to suffer hardships as disabilities can be life-long, some can have painful reactions to treatment, and the devastating stigma still continues.” |
What about leprosy in the real world?
The World Health Organization recently reported that thousands of adults and children have been diagnosed with leprosy in 2021/2022. Many were diagnosed with visible disabilities such as blindness, clawed hands or lost digits, that will affect their lives forever. Moreover, it is readily acknowledged that millions more are undiagnosed, spreading infection within their communities or, living with its life-changing effects such as blindness, clawed hands, or chronic tropical ulcers.
Leprosy causes more disability than other infectious diseases. World Health Organization
Leprosy is also one of the most stigmatised diseases on earth. A leprosy diagnosis is a life sentence for some, often considered a curse from God and the result of sin. Many people with leprosy are thrown out of their homes, communities, or forced to leave their employment leading to a life of begging. Leprosy is still a legitimate reason to divorce in some countries. It is also a reason that anyone fearing that they may have caught leprosy, is too frightened to ask for a diagnosis.
The World Health Organization recently reported that thousands of adults and children have been diagnosed with leprosy in 2021/2022. Many were diagnosed with visible disabilities such as blindness, clawed hands or lost digits, that will affect their lives forever. Moreover, it is readily acknowledged that millions more are undiagnosed, spreading infection within their communities or, living with its life-changing effects such as blindness, clawed hands, or chronic tropical ulcers.
Leprosy causes more disability than other infectious diseases. World Health Organization
Leprosy is also one of the most stigmatised diseases on earth. A leprosy diagnosis is a life sentence for some, often considered a curse from God and the result of sin. Many people with leprosy are thrown out of their homes, communities, or forced to leave their employment leading to a life of begging. Leprosy is still a legitimate reason to divorce in some countries. It is also a reason that anyone fearing that they may have caught leprosy, is too frightened to ask for a diagnosis.
For information about leprosy please read our Q&A
For more information please contact:
Clare McIntosh
Chief Executive Officer
St Francis Leprosy Guild
London W10 6EJ
Tel: +44 (0)7754 592240
Email: enquiries@stfrancisleprosy.org
Twitter @StLeprosy
Facebook
For more information please contact:
Clare McIntosh
Chief Executive Officer
St Francis Leprosy Guild
London W10 6EJ
Tel: +44 (0)7754 592240
Email: enquiries@stfrancisleprosy.org
Twitter @StLeprosy
