02673nas a2200421   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653001500058653001000073653002100083653001500104653001000119653002100129653001900150653002000169653002700189653001100216653001100227653001200238653002000250653000900270653001600279653002400295653001700319653002100336100001100357700001200368700001600380700001200396700001700408245015600425856006700581300001100648490000800659050001400667520155600681022001402237       2006                            d  c2006 Feb 0110aAdolescent10aAdult10aAge Distribution10aBangladesh10aChild10aChild, Preschool10aCohort Studies10aContact Tracing10aFamily Characteristics10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aLogistic Models10aMale10aMiddle Aged10aProspective Studies10aRisk Factors10aSex Distribution1 aMoet J1 aPahan D1 aSchuring RP1 aOskam L1 aRichardus JH00aPhysical distance, genetic relationship, age, and leprosy classification are independent risk factors for leprosy in contacts of patients with leprosy.  uhttps://academic.oup.com/jid/article-lookup/doi/10.1086/499278  a346-530 v193  aMOET 20063 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>Close contacts of patients with leprosy have a higher risk of developing leprosy. Several risk factors have been identified, including genetic relationship and physical distance. Their independent contributions to the risk of developing leprosy, however, have never been sufficiently quantified.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>Logistic-regression analysis was performed on intake data from a prospective cohort study of 1037 patients newly diagnosed as having leprosy and their 21,870 contacts.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Higher age showed an increased risk, with a bimodal distribution. Contacts of patients with paucibacillary (PB) leprosy with 2-5 lesions (PB2-5) and those with multibacillary (MB) leprosy had a higher risk than did contacts of patients with single-lesion PB leprosy. The core household group had a higher risk than other contacts living under the same roof and next-door neighbors, who again had a higher risk than neighbors of neighbors. A close genetic relationship indicated an increased risk when blood-related children, parents, and siblings were pooled together.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSIONS: </strong>Age of the contact, the disease classification of the index patient, and physical and genetic distance were independently associated with the risk of a contact acquiring leprosy. Contact surveys in leprosy should be not only focused on household contacts but also extended to neighbors and consanguineous relatives, especially when the patient has PB2-5 or MB leprosy.</p>
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