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Background: Leprosy is a major public health problem in India, which affects many people every year and has significantly high new case detection rates in certain districts and blocks. According to the National Leprosy Elimination Program (NLEP) report of March 2019, there were a total of 1.14 lakhs new cases of leprosy in India with an Annual New Case Detection Rate (ANCDR) of 8.1 per 100,000 population. Aim: The present study aimed at determining the epidemiological and clinical profile of leprosy patients from a tertiary level teaching hospital in South Rajasthan. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, record-based study was carried out on patients registered in the leprosy clinic of a tertiary level teaching hospital of South Rajasthan during a period of ten years (2010-2019). Data regarding the demographic profile, clinical features, treatment given, and complications were analysed. Results: A total of 1372 patients registered in the leprosy clinic during a period of 10 years were evaluated. There were 1007 (73.4%) males and 365 (26.6%) females with a male-female ratio of 2.76:1. The majority of patients 671 (48.9%) belonged to the middle age group (21-40 years). Multibacillary leprosy was the most common clinical type seen in 1109 patients (80.8%). Borderline leprosy was the most common morphological type, determined in 625 (45.6%) patients, of which BL (21.0%) was the most common group. 16.7% patients presented with leprosy reaction at the time of initial diagnosis. Type 1 reaction was seen in 91(6.6%) and type 2 reaction in 138 (10.1%) patients. Grade I disability was observed in 347 (25.3%) patients whereas grade II disability was seen in 456 (33.2%) patients. 54 patients (3.9%) had a definite history of contact in the family. 28 patients defaulted during the study period. Yearly trend of epidemiological and operational parameters was observed, and the parameters were compared with the national data. Conclusion: Persistent high proportion of multibacillary cases and grade 2 disability indicates that leprosy continues to be a significant health care problem despite statistical elimination. There is a clear need to strengthen early detection, treatment and regular follow-up of these cases in both high and low endemic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The prevalence of leprosy in India has decreased to <1 per 10,000 population by 2016 after the introduction of Multidrug Therapy (MDT) in 1982; still wide variations in Prevalence Rates (PR) continue to exist across the states and regions in the country. Aim: To determine the current clinical profile of leprosy and study various presenting features of patients with leprosy at a tertiary care hospital in North India. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study, based on seven years data, was conducted on patients diagnosed and registered in the leprosy clinic of a tertiary care hospital in North India, from January 2013 to December 2019. Data regarding their demographic details, presenting complaints, clinical features, associated complications and treatment administered was analysed and was entered into Microsoft Excel and presented as tables. Results: A total of 181 patients of leprosy were registered over a period of seven years. There were 133 males and 48 females with M:F ratio of 2.77:1. Of the total patients registered, 3.86% were children (≤14 years) and 97.8 % patients were immigrants from the adjoining states. The most common clinical type was Multibacillary (MB) leprosy in 88.95% patients whereas most frequent morphological type was Borderline Tuberculoid (BT) leprosy (72.93%). Thirty-three (18.23%) patients presented with leprosy reaction (Type 1 reaction in 16.6% and Type 2 reaction in 1.66%). World Health Organisation (WHO) grade 2 deformities (G2D) were diagnosed in 3 (1.66%) patients, with claw hand being the most common deformity (1.10%). Anaesthetic to hypoaesthetic patches were the most common presenting feature (64.1%). Conclusion: Despite statistical elimination, MB disease and leprosy reactions are commonly seen as presenting manifestations. It highlights the need for high quality leprosy services including good referral system for an active case detection. Varied clinical presentations of leprosy should be contemplated while examining patients that can assist in an early and better case detection that will prevent delay in therapy and associated deformities and also decrease the transmission of disease in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leprosy has been officially eliminated from India since December, 2005; still, there are districts and blocks reporting high prevalence indicating ongoing transmission. The present study aimed at determining the current clinical profile of leprosy from a tertiary level hospital in Delhi. Materials and Methods: A retrospective, record‑based study was carried out on patients diagnosed and registered in the leprosy clinic of a tertiary level teaching hospital in East district of Delhi (April 2007 to March 2012). Data regarding demographic details, clinical features, treatment started and complications was analyzed. Results: A total of 849 patients were registered over a 5‑year period, with M: F ratio of 2.3:1. 9.3% were children (≤14 years). 54.3% patients were immigrants from adjoining states. Multibacillary leprosy was the most common clinical type (86.9%). Borderline tuberculoid leprosy was the most frequent morphologic type, seen in 56.3% followed by borderline‑borderline (1.5%), borderline lepromatous (24.9%), lepromatous leprosy (8.1%), pure neuritic (8.1%), histoid and indeterminate leprosy (0.5% each). 37.4% patients presented in reaction (Type I in 30.4% cases and Type II in 7% cases). WHO grade II deformities were diagnosed in 37.9% with claw hand being the most common paralytic deformity (23.3% cases). Conclusion: Our study offers insight into the current status of the disease in an area of otherwise low prevalence. It is seen that despite statistical elimination, multibacillary disease, leprosy reactions and deformities are commonly seen as presenting manifestations, in contrast to national projected trends. Delhi's unique demography with a high degree of migrant workers, presenting to our center (near border location) could be a possible contributing factor towards these aberrations. It highlights the need for continuation of targeted leprosy control activities and active case detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]