Epidemiology Of Disability in Incident Leprosy Patients at Supervisory Urban Leprosy Unit of Nagpur City

Authors

  • L B Chavan Gujarat State AIDS Control Society, Ahmedabad
  • Prakash Patel SMIMER, Surat

Keywords:

Leprosy, Deformity, Epidemiology, Disability

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium Leprae, affecting mainly peripheral nerves and skin. Disabilities and deformities are major concerns as it triggers social, economic and psychosocial problems of leprosy patients. In the study, 105 incident leprosy patients registered in a randomly selected Supervisory Urban Leprosy Unit during year 2004-05 were interviewed. Disability was graded as per WHO-2 point scale. There were 52 male and 53 female with median age of 26 years. The WHO grade -II disability was 12.38 % and it was significantly higher among manual workers and housewives (76.92%, P<0.05). Hands and feet disabilities were found in 38.10 % while nobody had eye related disability. Subjects with delayed diagnosis beyond 12 months had significantly higher grade-2 disabilities than diagnosed earlier (P<0.05). Disability rate was also higher in Multi-Bacillary leprosy patients (P<0.001). Ulcer was the most common type of grade-II deformity (61.54 %) which was significantly higher in females (P<0.05). Prevalence of disability was found higher in study area than national average. Awareness about Prevention Of Deformities (POD), early diagnosis (<12 months) and treatment are recommended to avert visible deformities and hence social stigma in leprosy patients.

References

Yawalkar SJ (2002). Leprosy for Medical Practioners and paramedical workers. 7th edn, Novartis foundation for sustainable development, Basle, Switzerland, p13.

Garg BS, Deshmukh PR (2004). Progress Towards leprosy elimination in Maharashtra state and Reflection from Leprosy Elimination Monitoring, 2003. J Mahatma Gandhi Inst Med Sci, 9(1), 5-9.

Government of India (1999). Learning material on leprosy for capacity building of medical officers working in hospital/ PHC/CHC/ Dispensaries. Director General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and family welfare (leprosy-Division), Govt Of Ind and ILEP, New Delhi. pp 4-11.

Kaur S (1982). Endemicity of leprosy in union territory of Chandigarh and surrounding state. Lepr. In India; 54: 428.

Tsutsumi A, Izutsu T, Islam A, et al (2004). Depressive status of leprosy patients in Bangladesh: Association with self perception of stigma. Lepr. Rev. 75(1):57-66.

Stella M. Van Beers, Mohammad Hatta and Paul R. Klaster et al (1999). Patient contact is the major determinant in incident leprosy implication for future contact. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 67(2):119-28.

Mathew VG, Roberts H (2002). Epidemiological assessment of mono lesion leprosy cases. Lepr. Rev. 73(3):172-78.

Chaturvedi RM (1988). Epidemiological study of leprosy in Malwani Suburb of Bombay. Lepr. Rev. 59(2): 113-20.

Tin K (1999). Population screening and chemoprophylaxis for household contacts of leprosy patients in the republic of the Marshall Island. Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis. 67(4 Suppl):S26-9.

Government of India (2002). NLEP information system: Addl. Annex 14; Indian Second National Leprosy Elimination Report 2002. Director General of Health Services, Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare, Govt Of Ind and WHO, New Delhi. pp 83-91.

Government of India (2002). Leprosy Elimination Monitoring in Maharashtra. Director General of Health Services, Ministry Of Health and Family Welfare, Govt Of Ind and WHO, New Delhi. pp xiii, ii, 36.

Kaur H and Ramesh V (1994). Social problems of women leprosy patients: A study conducted at 2 urban Leprosy centers in Delhi. Lepr Rev. 65(4):361-75.

LEPRA (2002). Report of the international leprosy association, technical forum. Lepr Rev. 73(2 suppl); 345-552.

Downloads

Published

2011-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Chavan LB, Patel P. Epidemiology Of Disability in Incident Leprosy Patients at Supervisory Urban Leprosy Unit of Nagpur City. Natl J Community Med [Internet]. 2011 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];2(01):119-22. Available from: https://njcmindia.com/index.php/file/article/view/1858

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles