A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF LESIONS WITH INDICES BY SLIT SKIN SMEAR FOR LEPROSY

Background:

Leprosy is a disease that predominantly affects the skin and peripheral nerves, resulting in neuropathy and associated long-term consequences, including deformities and disabilities. Brazil, India and Indonesia reported more than 10,000 new cases each, together accounting for 79.3% of new cases detected globally. These 3 countries also showed an increase in new case detection in 2023.The aim & objective is to determine the prevalence of Leprosy in suspected cases along with their bacteriological and morphological indices and their correlation with clinical sign and symptoms.

Materials and Methods:

After taking permission from Institutional Ethics Committee and the verbal consent of the patient for obtaining the slit skin smear, detailed history & required examination of the patient was carried out. Smear stained with Zeihl -Neelsen stain and graded for both BI (Bacteriological Index) and MI (Morphological Index). Data analyzed and correlated.

Result:

Retrospective study of 6months (October 2024 to March 2025) was done. Total 134 patients were sent from dermatology department to microbiology lab for slit skin smear. Leprosy found in 80 (59.7%) patients with ages 18 to 80 years and in 76.3% males and 23.8% females. 40% showed nerve involvement, 61.3% showed skin lesions, 63.7% showed sensory loss. 1.2% have 5+ BI and 30% have >25% MI.

Conclusion:

In our study high prevalence of leprosy is seen instead of availability of better health services and health programmes. There is a need of awareness of rural public for route of transmission as mostly people taking it as contagious rather than transmitted by droplet. This is a major reason of increasing number of cases and neglected patient care or treatment by their own family members.