Clinicoepidemiological Study of Leprosy in a Tertiary Care Center- A Three Year Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND Leprosy is a major public health problem in developing countries. India dominates the global picture with 60% of the world's leprosy cases. This study was done to bring about the current trends in the clinicoepidemiological profile of leprosy in a te rtiary care center. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical profile of leprosy patients in a tertiary care center. MATERIALS AND METHODS This is a descriptive study of all patients who attended Urban Leprosy Clinic (ULC) in the department of Dermato-Venereology during the period from January 2014-2017. Leprosy patients seen during this period were registered at the ULC and the records were maintained by a health inspector posted at the department, under the supervision and guidance of the consultants in the department. Clinical spectrum of the patient was determined obtaining detailed clinical history and meticulous clinical examination followed by slit skin smear examination and histopathological evaluation. All the patients were treated with paucibacillary and multibacillary drug therapy according to their disease spectrum. RESULTS A total of 214 patients attended the Urban Leprosy Clinic during the year January 2015-December 2017 in our hospital. CONCLUSION Notable thing in our study is high new case detection rate despite the reduction in prevalence rate. Lack of awareness about the disease in the community might be the cause for the delay in reporting and hence a late diagnosis resulting in majority of patients fall under multibacillary spectrum.