02437nas a2200301   4500000000100000008004100001260002700042653001200069653001700081653001900098653001000117100002400127700002100151700002300172700002400195700002200219700002100241700002100262700002100283700002500304700002000329245012300349856008100472300001000553490000700563520155100570022001402121       2025                            d  bOur Dermatology Online10aLeprosy10aEpidemiology10aPublic health 10aCongo1 aOdimba Tundanonga R1 aKatabayi Mbiya A1 aMatshoko Limonge A1 aNshindi Tshilengi A1 aAtibu Bin Faray G1 aBalenga Luboya A1 aMujinga Lukusa E1 aNgalula Muteba G1 aMusuibwe Wa Nzambi A1 aSeudjip Nono LJ00aEpidemiological profile of leprosy at the Hôpital de la Rive, City province of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo  uhttps://www.odermatol.com/odermatology/2025S3/4.Profil-OdimbaTundanongaR.pdf  a59-650 v163 a<p><strong>Background</strong></p>

<p>Leprosy, a neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, remains a public health issue in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The need for updated information on this dermatological condition motivated the present study, which aims to reassess its epidemioclinical profile and complications in the city-province of Kinshasa.</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>This was a retrospective study of leprosy cases at Hôpital de la Rive in Kinshasa, a center formerly recognized for leprosy management, over a 9-year period. The data of interest included sociodemographic, clinical, and paraclinical variables. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software, applying measures of central tendency, dispersion, and frequency analyses.</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>The results showed a variable distribution of leprosy cases, with higher frequencies observed in 2018 and 2017. The majority of patients were male, with a mean age of 43.03 ± 16 years. Multibacillary cases were more frequent than paucibacillary cases (98.3% vs. 1.7%). Clinical diagnosis was the primary method used, with a low proportion of cases confirmed by biological tests. Complications were present in a minority of patients.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>

<p>Leprosy primarily affects married men, with multibacillary forms predominantly diagnosed clinically. Despite the extent of skin lesions, complications were generally uncommon.</p>
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