@article{7474,
  keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Brazil, Child, Child, Preschool, Contact Tracing, Family Characteristics, Female, Humans, Incidence, leprosy, Male, Population Surveillance, Prevalence},
  author = {Ignotti E and Bayona M and Alvarez-Garriga C and Andrade V L G and Valente J G},
  title = {Transmission of Hansen's disease and unscreened household contacts.},
  abstract = {<p><b>INTRODUCTION: </b>Leprosy household contact investigation has been recommended as an epidemiological surveillance strategy for more than 50 years.</p><p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>The purpose of this study was to estimate the yield that could be achieved in case detection if four contacts could be examined for every case found.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>For the estimation of the number of cases not detected (lost) and yield per contact investigation in Mato Grosso, the incidence rates and yield calculations from a cohort study conducted in Rio de Janeiro by Matos et al (1999) were applied to data from the state of Mato Grosso. Also, to identify high-risk groups for leprosy, a cross-sectional study was conducted in which leprosy cases found as a result of a contact investigation were compared with index cases detected by other means.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>The lost cases among household contacts were at least 4 per every 10 new cases detected. This is the result of insufficient contact investigations--it being 0.8 instead of 4 contact investigations per each case as recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Up to 60% of the incidence of leprosy could be explained by the high number of lost cases among household contacts not examined. Women and children are more likely to be contacts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>The lost cases due to insufficient contact investigation represent lost opportunities in early detection and treatment, thus losing the opportunity to reduce leprosy transmission.</p>},
  year = {2007},
  journal = {Indian journal of leprosy},
  volume = {79},
  pages = {11-25},
  month = {2007 Jan-Mar},
  issn = {0254-9395},
  language = {eng},
}