02734nas a2200421   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653002100070653001000091653002100101653003300122653001100155653002100166653001100187653001000198653001200208653000900220653002400229653002900253653001500282653002400297653002300321653002700344653002100371100001300392700001500405700001900420700001300439700001600452245004900468856005100517300000900568490000700577050001600584520169800600022001402298       2004                            d  c2004 Mar10aAdolescent10aAge Distribution10aChild10aChild, Preschool10aCommunicable Disease Control10aFemale10aHealth Education10aHumans10aIndia10aleprosy10aMale10aMandatory Reporting10aNational Health Programs10aPrevalence10aProgram Development10aProgram evaluation10aSchool Health Services10aSex Distribution1 aNorman G1 aJoseph G A1 aUdayasuriyan P1 aSamuel P1 aVenugopal M00aLeprosy case detection using schoolchildren.  uhttps://leprosyreview.org/article/75/1/03-4039  a34-90 v75  aNORMAN 20043 a<p>An innovative method that combined awareness creation with screening of high school students by their peers was undertaken in 26 randomly selected schools in the project area of the Schieffelin Leprosy Research and Training Center, Karigiri, Vellore, India. This method entailed educating teachers and student leaders in grades 8-12 about leprosy and how to suspect leprosy among their peers. The student leaders in turn conducted a similar awareness programme for their peers and encouraged them to report if they suffered from any skin problem or skin lesion. Based on the reporting by their peers, the class leaders prepared a 'suspect list'. Within a fortnight of the awareness program, a trained leprosy worker visited the school and examined all the students on the 'suspect list'. Those diagnosed to have leprosy were referred to a medical officer, who then confirmed the diagnosis and initiated treatment. Among the 23,125 students enrolled in the 26 randomly selected schools, 234 student leaders were educated about leprosy and trained to detect suspect lesions among their peers. A total of 2200 (9.5%) children reported with skin lesions to their leaders and after screening by a leprosy supervisor and confirmation by a medical officer, 14 new cases (NCDR 6.05/10,000) were detected. This rate was found to be comparable with case detection rates of annual school surveys done during the National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), when all schoolchildren were examined. The paper suggests that schoolchildren can be used effectively in leprosy case detection and this method has the additional advantage of creating awareness among them, their teachers and communities.</p>  a0305-7518