01927nas a2200301   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001600055653003300071653001100104653001400115653001100129653001400140653001000154653001200164653000900176653001600185653002600201653001700227100001100244700001100255700001200266245005900278300000900337490000700346520125800353022001401611       2011                            d  c2011 Feb10aAge Factors10aCommunicable Disease Control10aFemale10aGeography10aHumans10aIncidence10aJapan10aleprosy10aMale10aSex Factors10aSocioeconomic Factors10aTime Factors1 aKoba A1 aMori S1 aIshii N00a[Survey of newly diagnosed Japanese leprosy patients].  a11-60 v803 a<p>We aimed to elucidate the patterns and trends of autochthonous leprosy in Japan from 1964 to 2009, to compare them with the findings from other studies of leprosy in decline. Data on registered leprosy cases in Japan in the period 1964-2009 were analysed with reference to trends in case detection, geographical distribution, age at diagnosis, sex, classification and family history. A consistent decline in leprosy case detection was observed in all areas of the country over the period 1964-2009. Highest incidence was consistently in Okinawa. Autochthonous leprosy has not been reported in anyone born in Japan since 1980. Increasing average age and a shift towards lower latitudes were demonstrated throughout the period. Analyses of data on autochthonous cases revealed patterns similar to those reported in other countries with declining leprosy. Okinawa has had the highest incidence of leprosy in all of Japan since the first national survey in 1900. Several possible explanations include the difference of leprosy control history between Okinawa and the rest of Japan, Okinawa's unique geographical condition, large-scale problem of stigma and discrimination against leprosy patients and delayed improvement of socio-economic conditions.</p>  a1342-3681