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Current Trends of Leprosy in a Tertiary Care Centre in North Kerala: A 10 Year Observational Retrospective Study

Abstract
After the declaration of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem, leprosy services in India have been integrated with General Health-Care System, possibly resulting in readuced focus. This study was conducted to analyze the trends in the disease over a 10-year period in a tertiary care hospital in North Kerala in post elimination era. Of the 133 Hansen’s disease (HD) cases, HD-BT (borderline tuberculoid) was the most common type, followed by, HD-LL (lepromatous lepromatous). Leprosy reactions were seen in 37.59% cases, and deformities were noticed in 19 (13.53%) cases, of which 13 (66.67%) had grade 2 disability. While analyzing slit skin smear results, 25.56% were AFB (Acid Fast Bacilli) positive. On histopathological evaluation of 129 biopsied cases, 115 (89.13%) cases were consistent with clinical diagnosis. The presence of a significant number of smear-positive cases in a post elimination era, particularly lepromatous spectrum, is a matter of serious concern. Community based studies will be necessary to understand the reality at population level and for devising appropriate strategy to break the chain in transmission.

More information

Type
Journal Article
Author
Thyvalappil A
Pretty M
Anumod B
Ajayakumar S
Rajiv S
Joy B
Radhakrishnan K