Grade 2 disabilities and varying grades of motor function impairment are still being encountered in the postelimination phase of leprosy in India. This is a retrospective descriptive study done in the Urban Leprosy Center of Govt Medical College, Thiruvanthapuram (Kerala), a Tertiary Care Institute. Three hundred and eightynine cases of leprosy reported to this centre and were diagnosed (n=389) in the post elimination phase (2006-2015) of which 103 cases were having grade 2 disabilities, thus accounting for a prevalence of 26.48% and 635 cases in the pre-elimination phase (1996-2005) comprising of 106 cases with grade 2 disability thus accounting for a prevalence of 16.70% at same centre. The male/female ratio of the cases with grade 2 disability in the post-elimination phase was 5.87 : 1. The age group 31-40 accounted for the maximum number of cases with grade 2 disability (27/103, 26.21%). Lepra reactions (both Type 1 and 2) were present in 31 of the grade 2 disability cases (30.1%). Borderline tuberculoid (BT) was the commonest type of leprosy, 50 cases (48.54%) with grade 2 disability in the post-elimination phase. Ulnar palsy, 63 cases (49.61%) accounted for the commonest type of grade 2 disability in the post-elimination phase. There was a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of grade 2 disability cases in the post-elimination phase (P<0.001). Multiple disabilities involving 2 or more trunks were more common in smear positive cases (P = 0.003). The prevalence of lepra reactions was low in this series. Though these figures may and may not reflect the true magnitude of problem at community level, this should be considered as warning sign of delayed reporting/diagnosis and should be carefully investigated in the population.
BT - Indian journal of leprosy J2 - Indian J Lepr LA - eng N2 -Grade 2 disabilities and varying grades of motor function impairment are still being encountered in the postelimination phase of leprosy in India. This is a retrospective descriptive study done in the Urban Leprosy Center of Govt Medical College, Thiruvanthapuram (Kerala), a Tertiary Care Institute. Three hundred and eightynine cases of leprosy reported to this centre and were diagnosed (n=389) in the post elimination phase (2006-2015) of which 103 cases were having grade 2 disabilities, thus accounting for a prevalence of 26.48% and 635 cases in the pre-elimination phase (1996-2005) comprising of 106 cases with grade 2 disability thus accounting for a prevalence of 16.70% at same centre. The male/female ratio of the cases with grade 2 disability in the post-elimination phase was 5.87 : 1. The age group 31-40 accounted for the maximum number of cases with grade 2 disability (27/103, 26.21%). Lepra reactions (both Type 1 and 2) were present in 31 of the grade 2 disability cases (30.1%). Borderline tuberculoid (BT) was the commonest type of leprosy, 50 cases (48.54%) with grade 2 disability in the post-elimination phase. Ulnar palsy, 63 cases (49.61%) accounted for the commonest type of grade 2 disability in the post-elimination phase. There was a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of grade 2 disability cases in the post-elimination phase (P<0.001). Multiple disabilities involving 2 or more trunks were more common in smear positive cases (P = 0.003). The prevalence of lepra reactions was low in this series. Though these figures may and may not reflect the true magnitude of problem at community level, this should be considered as warning sign of delayed reporting/diagnosis and should be carefully investigated in the population.
PY - 2017 SP - 127 EP - 137 T2 - Indian journal of leprosy TI - Grade 2 disability in leprosy: Scenario in the post-elimination phase of leprosy from a tertiary care center. UR - http://www.ijl.org.in/2017/2%20S%20Pradeep%20Nair%20&%20Metthews%20(127-137).pdf VL - 89 ER -