Plural of leper; people with leprosy, an infectious disease that damages skin and nerves.
From Greek 'lepra' (leprosy, from 'lepein' meaning to scale or peel). The word entered Old English from Latin 'leprosus' (scaly).
Leprosy caused such extreme social isolation that 'leper' became a metaphor for any outcast—lepers were literally banished, and their disease is still associated with stigma even though modern antibiotics can completely cure it in months.
Historically, women with leprosy faced compounded stigma tied to sexuality and 'purity' narratives. The disease itself was not gendered, but moral judgment attached to affected women was.
Use 'people with leprosy' or 'persons affected by leprosy' to center identity beyond diagnosis and avoid reductive labeling.
["people with leprosy","persons affected by leprosy","individuals with Hansen's disease"]
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