03320nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653002100080653000900101653001000110653002100120653001900141653003000160653001100190653001100201653001100212653002000223653001200243653000900255653001600264653001500280653002100295653001300316653001700329100001800346245021000364856004100574300001100615490000700626520229900633022001402932       1998                            d  c1998 Jun10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAge Distribution10aAged10aChild10aChild, Preschool10aCohort Studies10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aFemale10aHumans10aInfant10aInfant, Newborn10aleprosy10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aRecurrence10aSex Distribution10aThailand10aTime Factors1 aSchreuder P A00aThe occurrence of reactions and impairments in leprosy: experience in the leprosy control program of three provinces in northeastern Thailand, 1987-1995 [correction of 1978-1995]. I. Overview of the study.  uhttp://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v66n2a04.pdf  a149-580 v663 a<p><b>AIM: </b>This paper is the first in a series of three reports on the occurrence of reactions and impairments in leprosy in Thailand. This first paper gives a general overview about the methodology of the study, some epidemiological observations, delay in detection, multidrug therapy (MDT) completion rates and relapses. The other two papers report on: II. Reactions and III. Neural and Other Impairments. This study was carried out from 1987 until 1995 in three neighboring provinces in northeastern Thailand.</p><p><b>STUDY DESIGN: </b>A population-based, prospective cohort study.</p><p><b>STUDY POPULATION: </b>All 640 newly diagnosed leprosy patients in the three provinces, registered between October 1987 and September 1990, were included [420 paucibacillary (PB) and 220 multibacillary (MB)]. This group was followed up (actively and passively) until the end of 1995.</p><p><b>METHODS: </b>Patients were found by active and passive case finding. All new, untreated leprosy patients from the area were enrolled and started on the World Health Organization (WHO) MDT (WHO/MDT) regimen. A vertical control service was run by specialized leprosy workers. During treatment the patients received their monthly doses at home. During surveillance the patients were followed up once a year by a special team. Patients were questioned about delay in detection. Treatment completion rates were calculated. The occurrence of reactions and neural and other impairments at the beginning of, during and after treatment was ascertained. After treatment, the occurrence of late reactions and relapses was recorded.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>A higher frequency of leprosy was found among the male patients, especially in the MB group. However, in the PB group a higher female/male ratio was found in the age group 55 years and older. There was an increase in the detection rate from the youngest age group to the age group 55 years and older, which showed the highest detection rate. Treatment completion rates were high, 95% in both in the PB and MB treatment groups. About 50% of the new cases reported a delay between onset and registration of 1 year or more. By 1995, 93% of the original patient group was still available for follow up. By the end of 1995, 8 PB and 2 MB relapses were recorded.</p>  a0148-916X