@article{93373,
  author = {Thyvalappil A and Pretty M and Anumod B and Ajayakumar S and Rajiv S and Joy B and Radhakrishnan K},
  title = {Current Trends of Leprosy in a Tertiary Care Centre in North Kerala: A 10 Year Observational Retrospective Study},
  abstract = {After the declaration of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem, leprosy services in India have been integrated with General Health-Care System, possibly resulting in readuced focus. This study was conducted to analyze the trends in the disease over a 10-year period in a tertiary care hospital in North Kerala in post elimination era. Of the 133 Hansen’s disease (HD) cases, HD-BT (borderline tuberculoid) was the most common type, followed by, HD-LL (lepromatous lepromatous). Leprosy reactions were seen in 37.59% cases, and deformities were noticed in 19 (13.53%) cases, of which 13 (66.67%) had grade 2 disability. While analyzing slit skin smear results, 25.56% were AFB (Acid Fast Bacilli) positive. On histopathological evaluation of 129 biopsied cases, 115 (89.13%) cases were consistent with clinical diagnosis. The presence of a significant number of smear-positive cases in a post elimination era, particularly lepromatous spectrum, is a matter of
serious concern. Community based studies will be necessary to understand the reality at population level and for devising appropriate strategy to break the chain in transmission. },
  year = {2019},
  journal = {Indian journal of leprosy},
  volume = {91},
  pages = {175-183},
  url = {http://www.ijl.org.in/2019/2%20A%20Thyvalappil%20(175-177)%202%20(1).pdf},
  language = {eng},
}