Changing picture of leprosy in North Arcot District, Tamil Nadu after M.D.T.

This paper discussed the effect in a 5 year period (1983-88) of MDT on the Leprosy situation in North Arcot District where MDT was started in 1983. The cases at the start of MDT were 68351 and 29511 cases were detected in the year period and the total case load was 97862. Out of this total case load 84810 cases were deleted by RFC, deaths or PL*. The causes for deletions are discussed in detail. The remaining case load at the end of the 5 year period is 13052 or 13.35% of the cases at start. The M.D.T. has definitely played a part in the drastic reduction of the case load since the major number of cases have been deleted as RFC due to cure of the disease and so the future planning of leprosy work when the case load becomes very low is also discussed.