Profile of Disability in Leprosy Patients: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae that affects peripheral nerves and skin. The interaction between M. leprae and Schwann cells causes irreversible damage to peripheral nervous tissue afterward disability occurs. Involvement of the major nervous trunks of the extremities can produce sensory-motor deficits. The risk factors are delay in diagnosis, gender, age, type of leprosy, duration of disease, number of affected nerves, leprosy reaction, type of treatment, socioeconomic factors, education, ethnicity, and occupation. Purpose: The aim was to study the profile of leprosy patients with disability who seek treatment in Leprosy Division Dermatovenerology Outpatient Clinic RSUD Dr. Soetomo Surabaya. Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective study of leprosy patients with disability from January 2017 to December 2019. Result: The results of this study obtained a total of 275 leprosy patients with disabilities, which consisted of 76 patients (27.6%) with grade-1 disability and 199 patients (72.4%) with grade-2 disability. The majority were male (73.4%) and aged 25-44 years old (42.2%). Other dominant risk factors were MB type leprosy (92%), duration of disease more than 12 months (52.3%), no leprosy reaction (68%), and had received multidrug therapy (45.5%). Conclusion: Knowledge of disability risk factors can assist in improving management and education to prevent disability in leprosy patients.

Factors affecting contact tracing for the early detection of Leprosy cases: A qualitative study in Ho, Volta Region, Ghana

“…This belief coupled with the belief that Leprosy cannot be transmitted makes it difficult for people to appreciate the importance of contact tracing. It has been established that though the causative organism for Leprosy is Mycobacterium leprae , the mode of transmission is unknown (2,34). Contrary to this, there was no mention of Leprosy being a bacterial infection among the community members and the PAL.…”

“…Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is one of the oldest recorded diseases. It is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium leprae (1)(2)(3). The bacterium has a lengthy incubation period of up to 20 years (4).…”

“…The bacterium has a lengthy incubation period of up to 20 years (4). The onset of the disease is characterized by small lesions on the skin as well as peripheral neuropathies (1,2). If left untreated, Leprosy can lead to unaesthetic hyperpigmented patches of the skin, deformities, blindness, and cause damage to the peripheral nerves and the upper respiratory tract (5,6).…”

Borderline Lepromatous Leprosy with Severe Erythema Nodosum Leprosum: A Case Report

“…23 The risk factors for disability in leprosy include the type of leprosy, disease duration, total affected trunks nervous, leprosy reaction, and neuritis. 24 Healthcare must give education regarding complications and disabilities that can occur.…”