[Historical comparisons on related features among newly registered leprosy patients in the endemic areas of Wenshan district, Yunnan province].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current situation and prevalence of leprosy in Wenshan district, Yunnan province.

METHODS: To collect various data on leprosy reported by the health workers at the county level.

RESULTS: The number of newly registered patients did not decrease significantly in 1989, 1999 and 2009, respectively. The mean age of patients at detection was 33 - 35 years old. Time of delay between the disease onset and being diagnosed was shortened from 35.2 months in 1989 to 15.9 months in 2009. However, the proportion of patients with more than 12 months of delay still accounted for nearly 50%. The proportion of Grade II disability fluctuated between 15.2% - 17.7% and the proportion of child cases increased from 8.1% in 1989 to 13.1% in 2009. Clinics for skin diseases were the main locations for case detection. The proportion of new cases detected through 'active case finding' program accounted for 44.3% in 1999 and 42.6% in 2009, both higher than 17.7% in 1989.

CONCLUSION: The situation of leprosy in Wenshan district, Yunnan province, was still serious and the reason for the occurrence of new cases was related to the fact that the infectious source of leprosy had not been under full control.