The sons of former leprosy sufferers live in the same area. They have grown up with the fear of illness and enjoy more rights than their parents. Leprosy is an infectious disease, is recognized as the disease more difficult to acquire, since only five of every 100 people who are exposed to germs that cause (Mycobacterium leprae), and develop it at some point in their lives. It is not hereditary, however, close contact for at least 6 months continuous treatment with a patient without an increased risk of suffering within the next few years. Symptoms can appear between 6 and 20 years of contact with an infected patient and requires a genetic predisposition to acquire it.