Monitoring and detection of leprosy patients in Southwest China: A retrospective study, 2010–2014

Abstract

More than 100 counties, mainly in southwest China, report incidence rates of leprosy >1/100,000. The current study analysed the epidemiology of leprosy in southwest China to improve our understanding of the transmission pattern and improve control programs. 207 counties were selected in southwest China. Leprosy patients and their household contacts were recruited. The data from the medical interview and the serological antileprosy antibody of the leprosy patients were analysed. A total of 2,353 new cases of leprosy were interviewed. The distribution of leprosy patients was partly associated with local natural and economic conditions, especially several pocket areas. A total of 53 from 6643 household contacts developed leprosy, and the incidence rate of leprosy in the household contacts was 364/100,000 person-years. We found that NDO-BSA attained higher positive rates than MMP-II and LID-1 regardless of clinical types, disability and infection time in leprosy patients. By means of combination of antigens, 88.4% patients of multibacillary leprosy were detected, in contrast to 59.9% in paucibacillary leprosy. Household contacts should be given close attention for the early diagnosis, disruption of disease transmission and precise control. Applications of serology for multi-antigens were recommended for effective coverage and monitoring in leprosy control.

Leprosy in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil: an integrated spatiotemporal approach

“…The greater incidence of NCs among males in the general population and the greater incidence of G2D in the male population in this study reinforce the idea that sex is a determinant of risk to leprosy. Similar results were obtained in studies of cases diagnosed from 2001 to 2014 in Brazil and in the state of Bahia and may indicate late diagnosis in males who visit the health services only after the onset of physical disability . The lack of trends in G2D reflects the low access of primary health care (PHC) by men, the feminization of health services, problems associated with incompatible schedules and excessive demands and other factors .…”

Trends of the leprosy control indicators in Benin from 2006 to 2018

“…In our study, both sexes were affected, but there was a predominance of male cases. This predominance was similar to that generally observed in several previous studies [23,27]. This male predominance could be explained by the low status of women and the economic dependence of women on men [28].…”

“…This increase in the proportion of multibacillary leprosy cases reflects the concept that late diagnosis leads to very high levels transmission of leprosy at the community level. A high proportion of MB leprosy cases has also been reported by several authors [21][22][23]. This may be because highprevalence regions have mainly PB cases, while in lowprevalence regions, MB forms are more frequently identified [24].…”

<p>Diffuse multibacillary leprosy patient with Lucio&rsquo;s phenomenon and positive anticardiolipin antibody misdiagnosed as lupus erythematosus panniculitis in the People&rsquo;s Republic of China</p>

“…Leprosy patients with misdiagnosis and delayed treatment may suffer from peripheral nerve injury and systematic disability. According to the WHO official records, 211,973 new cases were reported globally in the year 2015, and China contributed 678 (0.32%) new cases since the disease is still a public health problem in the southwest of China 2. Lucio’s phenomenon (LP) was first described in 1852 by Lucio and Alvarado, as a diffuse form of leprosmatous leprosy, common in Mexico (23%) and Central America, but quite rare in the rest of the world 3,4.…”