Leprosy in the post-elimination era: a clinico-epidemiological study from a northern Indian tertiary care hospital

Acta Dermatovenerol Alp Pannonica Adriat. 2019 Mar;28(1):7-10.

Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy is a chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Despite being eliminated from India in 2005, there are still a considerable number of leprosy cases.

Methods: A prospective hospital-based study involving all leprosy patients attending the leprosy clinic at the Department of Dermatology from January 2015 to December 2016.

Results: A total of 220 patients visited the leprosy clinic during the study period. Most of the patients (48.7%) were 20 to 40 years old. Multibacillary disease was more common in females (84.7%) than males (67.6%), and in rural patients (80.9%) than urban patients (64.8%). Borderline lepromatous leprosy was the most common (38.2%) type of leprosy seen, followed by lepromatous leprosy (28.2%) and borderline tuberculoid leprosy (21.4%).

Conclusions: Despite elimination, leprosy continues to be a health problem in this part of the world. We have shown that females and the rural population are more susceptible to multibacillary disease.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Cohort Studies
  • Communicable Disease Control / methods*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • India
  • Leprostatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Leprosy / diagnosis
  • Leprosy / drug therapy*
  • Leprosy / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium leprae / drug effects*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Assessment
  • Rural Population
  • Sex Distribution
  • Tertiary Care Centers
  • Urban Population
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Leprostatic Agents