02081nas a2200289   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653002100074653002100095653001100116653001100127653001200138653000900150653001200159653002100171653001700192100001500209700001300224700001900237700001400256245011500270300001100385490000700396520137400403022001401777       2001                            d  c2001 Oct-Dec10aAdolescent10aAge Distribution10aDisabled Persons10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aNigeria10aSex Distribution10aTime Factors1 aPeters E J1 aAnsa V O1 aImananagha K K1 aAntia E A00aTime of presentation for treatment and profile of deformities among leprosy patients in South Eastern Nigeria.  a237-410 v203 a<p>A 10 year review of leprosy patients seen at Leprosy Hospital Ekpene Obom in South Eastern Nigeria (1988-1997) was carried out to evaluate the effect of early identification and treatment of leprosy patients in the limitation of deformities among them. A total of 2,597 patients comprising 1,714 (66%) males and 883 (34.0%) females formed subjects for the study. Of these 288(11.1%) were aged 15 and below while 2,309 (88.9) were above 15 years. Their case records were thoroughly reviewed noting the duration of disease before presentation, type and location of deformity as well as the type of leprosy. Though there was a steady decline in the total number of leprosy patients seen over the study period as well as a decrease in the mean duration of illness before presentation, approximately 19% of patients still had deformities at presentation, a figure much lower than those reported by other workers. Analysis of the pattern of deformities shows that most patients 71.2% presented with affectation of the upper and lower limbs with consequent functional disability. We conclude that early treatment is an effective means of reducing the prevalence of deformity and thus disability from leprosy. More effective implementation of health education and treatment programmes initiated by the W.H.O should further reduce the scourge of leprosy in our community.</p>  a0189-160X