Alphos (from Greek ἀλφός ''alphos'' "a dull white leprosy") is a form of non- contagious

leprosy Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease (HD), is a Chronic condition, long-term infection by the bacteria ''Mycobacterium leprae'' or ''Mycobacterium lepromatosis''. Infection can lead to damage of the Peripheral nervous system, nerves, respir ...

, formerly described by the physician

Celsus Celsus (; , ''Kélsos''; ) was a 2nd-century Greek philosopher and opponent of early Christianity. His literary work '' The True Word'' (also ''Account'', ''Doctrine'' or ''Discourse''; Greek: )Hoffmann p.29 survives exclusively via quotati ...

under the name of

vitiligo Vitiligo (, ) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose pigment or color. The cause of vitiligo is unknown, but it may be related to immune system changes, genetic factors, stress, or sun exposure, and susceptibili ...

, a term now used for another

skin disease A skin condition, also known as cutaneous condition, is any medical condition that affects the integumentary system—the organ system that encloses the body and includes skin, Nail (anatomy), nails, and related muscle and glands. The major funct ...

. In alphos, the skin is rough, and looks as if it had drops of white on it, not much differing from morphea. It is referenced in the Greek translation of '' Leviticus'' 13:39.

References

* Murphy, James G. '' A critical and exegetical commentary on Leviticus''. 1872. xiii. 39. "It is alphos. This is a convenient word instead of the phrase ‘non-contagious leprosy.’" * *

External links

{{infectious-disease-stub Leprosy