02103nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653001000074653002100084653000900105653002200114653001100136653001000147653002100157653003000178653001100208653001400219653001100233653002000244653001200264653001600276653001500292100001500307700001400322700001500336700001400351700001700365700001700382700001700399245010300416300001100519490000700530520115400537022001401691       2000                            d  c2000 Apr-Jun10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAge Distribution10aAged10aAged, 80 and over10aBrazil10aChild10aChild, Preschool10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aHumans10aIncidence10aInfant10aInfant, Newborn10aleprosy10aMiddle Aged10aPrevalence1 aSoares L S1 aMoreira R1 aVilela V V1 aAlves M J1 aPimentel A F1 aFerreira A P1 aTeixeira H C00aThe impact of multidrug therapy on the epidemiological pattern of leprosy in Juiz de Fora, Brazil.  a343-500 v163 a<p>We investigated the impact of multidrug therapy (MDT) on the epidemiological pattern of leprosy in Juiz de Fora, Brazil, from 1978 to 1995. Evaluation of 1,283 medical charts was performed according to the treatment regimen used in two different periods. Following the introduction of MDT in 1987, prevalence of leprosy decreased from 22 patients/10,000 inhabitants to 5.2 patients/10,000 inhabitants in 1995. Incidence rate of leprosy was lower in period II (1987-1995) than in period I (1978-1986). Decreasing prevalence and incidence appear to be related to drug efficacy rather than decreased case identification, since both self-referred and professionally referred treatment increased markedly from period I to period II. For both periods, multibacillary leprosy was the most frequent clinical form of the disease (+/-68%), and the main infection risk factor identified was household contact. Leprosy is predominantly manifested in adults, but an increase in the number of very old and very young patients was observed in period II. The MDT program has been effective both in combating leprosy and in promoting awareness of the disease.</p>  a0102-311X