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Gender differences in epidemiological factors associated with treatment completion status of leprosy patients in the most hyperendemic district of Nepal.

The introduction of multidrug therapy (MDT), recommended by WHO, has been a major advance in the treatment of leprosy because of its relatively short treatment course and low rate of relapse. Although leprosy treatment is provided to both sexes equally, in most parts of the world significant differences have been found in treatment status. The main objective of the study was to investigate gender differences in epidemiological factors associated with treatment status of leprosy patients. An analytic cross-sectional study was carried out in the most hyperendemic Dhanusa District, Nepal. Stratified random sampling was applied for selection of the patients. Statistical analysis of the differences in treatment status, between males and females, and among other epidemiological factors of interest was carried out using multiple logistic regression. Chi-square/Fisher's exact test were also used to assess significant differences in values between males and females. There were 580 leprosy patients (385 male and 195 female) aged >15 years registered for MDT between April 1, 2001 to March 31, 2002 in the 16 main health centers of the district. Of the 580 patients, a total of 273 (183 male and 90 female) were included in the study, to collect data on clinical type of leprosy, patterns of physical deformity/disability, site of skin lesions, and socio-demographic information. There were 183 male (68.3% on MB-MDT) and 90 female (61.1% MB-MDT) leprosy patients. We found that 79.2% of male patients completed treatment, while 34.4% female patients did not complete within the given time frame. Significant gender differences among leprosy patients were found in the distribution of disability grades and treatment completion status. However, there was no significant gender difference in the distribution of leprosy types and skin lesion sites. The study also found significant associations between treatment completion status and gender (adjusted OR 2.05, 95% CI: 1.07-3.94), educational status (adjusted OR 2.37, 95% CI: 1.12-4.99), disability grade I (adjusted OR 3.14, 95% CI: 1.23-8.04), and disability grade 0 (adjusted OR 2.92, 95% CI: 1.14-7.47) after adjustment for all other leprosy/demographic factors.

Adolescent↗

Current epidemiology of leprosy.

Every year around 4,00,000 new cases of leprosy occur in India and India contributes about 80% of the global leprosy case load. The prevalence of leprosy (case load per 1,00,000 population) has come down from 52 per 10,000 in 1981 to 2.4 per 10,000 in July 2004. There is no primary prevention for leprosy. Multidrug therapy is the only intervention available against the disease. As of July 2004 there were about 2,40,000 leprosy cases on record in India. There are thirteen states and union territories in India which have already eliminated leprosy. About 70% of the cases detected in India are paucibacillary which are less or non-infectious. Ever since the start of National Leprosy Eradication Programme in 1983, the number of new cases detected every year has not shown significant change. Leprosy cases are treated for 6 months or 12 months depending on whether they are PB or MB. The treatment completion rates are now found to be 85% for MB and 90% for PB. Phased introduction of MDT services has contributed to a large extent the static level of new case detection. Without complete coverage of MDT, it is difficult to achieve stable level of new case detection. Diagnostic efficiency of the staff is very important external factor influencing case detection rate. The most important factor that could have significant impact or prevalence is the coverage of the entire population with adequate MDT service.

Government Programs↗

Impaired contrast sensitivity among leprosy patients with normal visual acuity.

Contrast sensitivity is a person's ability to identify an object from its background. Patients with normal visual acuity can have reduced contrast sensitivity and may experience trouble in identifying objects at night or moving around in dimly lit places. Contrast sensitivity has never been studied in leprosy patients having normal visual acuity. This study aimed to determine if contrast sensitivity is impaired in leprosy patients who have normal visual acuity and to identify possible associations with demographic, leprosy and ocular characteristics. A hospital based study measuring and comparing contrast sensitivity using the VCT 6500 chart in 127 consecutive leprosy patients without clinically apparent ocular complications and 123 non-leprosy controls was done. Contrast sensitivity was impaired in leprosy patients in all five spatial frequencies (1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12 and 18 cycles/degree) investigated. Among leprosy patients, contrast sensitivity falling outside the normative range was associated with increasing age (adjusted OR 1.28, 95% CI: 1.14-1.42), being female (adjusted OR 11.05, 95% CI: 2.93-41.69) and having a grade 2 deformity (adjusted OR 6.43, 95% CI:1.68-24.61). Contrast sensitivity is impaired in leprosy patients having normal visual acuity. Elderly, deformed, female patients are particularly burdened with this vision loss.

Adolescent↗

Progress towards the elimination of leprosy in Nigeria: a review of the role of policy implementation and operational factors.

The annual reports of the national leprosy control programme in Nigeria were reviewed to study the trends of the indices of leprosy control from 1992 to 2003 and determine the influence of operational and policy factors. By 2003, both national prevalence and case detection rates had reached below 0.5 per 10,000. Sub-nationally, all except three contiguous States in the Southeast, had prevalence rates below one case per 10,000. Over the 12 years, the prevalence rate decreased by 94-1%, from 7.14 to 0.42 per 10,000, with two periods of rapid decline: 1992-1994 and 1998. Remarkable surges of discharges from multi-drug therapy (MDT) occurred in these same periods. The period 1992-1994 corresponds to the years of introduction of MDT, case reviews, and clean-up of leprosy registers nationwide, while 1998 corresponds to the year the programme adopted the shortened 12-month MDT regime for multibacillary (MB) leprosy. The overall trend of case detection since 1992 was relatively stable, but had three significant periods of initial increase (1992-1994), stability (1994-1999) and recent decline (1999-2003), apparently related to the changing levels of activeness of the national programme. The pattern of new cases detected revealed increasing MB classification and lower disability, but a relatively stable child rate since 1992. The trend of MB proportion was also related to the years of MDT introduction and the adoption of a new leprosy case definition and classification policies. Thus, Nigeria has attained a low leprosy endemic status-mainly through operational and policy influences. The challenges that remain include reducing the relatively high leprosy burden in the Southeastern States and evolving effective case detection interventions that will make an observable impact on the incidence of leprosy.

Health Policy↗

Curing the stigma of leprosy.

The stigma of leprosy is a real phenomenon in many people's lives that affects their physical, psychological, social and economical well-being. There are many causes for this damaging image of leprosy. There is no one easy answer to dispelling this image; it is something that has to be done in partnership with communities and patients. Many papers document the effects of stigma, but few discuss or trial solutions. Education and media campaigns counteract false beliefs about leprosy and raise awareness of new advances in the field. Leprosy care is increasingly provided in an integrated setting showing patients and their communities that leprosy is not a disease apart. Physical and socio-economic rehabilitation is worthwhile in restoring self worth and status in the community and helps patients to find employment. Group counselling can allow those with leprosy to talk about their feelings and experiences to empower one another. Gradually attitudes towards leprosy are changing, but there is still much to be done if the underlying menace of stigma is to be dealt with. We as health professionals must be prepared to make the first move and give that first touch. Certainly more research is needed. In the highly endemic countries the road to elimination may yet be long. Perhaps with effort we will one day be able not only to treat the disease, but also to cure the stigma of leprosy, and make that road an easier one.

Persons with Disabilities↗

Gender difference in socio-epidemiological factors for leprosy in the most hyper-endemic district of Nepal.

Leprosy which has caused stigma and social ostracism for millennium is nearing elimination worldwide as a public health problem, but the leprosy burden in Nepal is still 4.4 times greater than WHO's target level of less than one case per 10,000 population. Although leprosy affects both the sexes, in most parts of the world males are affected more than females at a ratio of 2:1. The general objective of the study was to investigate the gender difference in socio-epidemiological factors for leprosy. The analytic cross-sectional study was carried out in one of the most hyper endemic district- Dhanusa district of Nepal. Stratified random sampling method was applied for the selection of the patients. Chi-square/Fisher's exact test was applied to assess statistically significant differences in values between males and females. There were 580 leprosy patients (385 male and 195 female) aged above 15 years registered for multi drug therapy between April 1, 2001 to March 31,2002 in the 16 main health centers of the district. Out of 580 patients, 273 patients (183 males and 90 females) were included in the study in order to collect the data on socio-demographics, patient's knowledge on leprosy, treatment seeking behaviour, and social problems faced by the patients. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule. The mean age of the male patients was 45.1 years (range 15-77 years) and female patients were 40.3 years (range 15-75 years). Among male patients 93.4% were married while among female patients 70.0% were married. Among male patients 51.9% were illiterate whereas 71.1% were illiterate among female patients. Most of the patients (69.6%) lived in joint family and the rest in nuclear family. Among male patients, 86.9% had good knowledge about the disease compared to 73.3% among females. This study showed that among the female patients 12.2% were facing high level of social problems, while among male patients only 4.4% were facing the same. About 15% patients had poor treatment seeking behaviors (8.2% among males and 27.8% among females). A significant gender differences among leprosy patients have been found in age distribution, educational status, marital status, caste types, family members, and overall knowledge on the general aspect of leprosy, social problems faced by the patients and treatment seeking behaviour.

Adolescent↗

Leprosy in Malaysia.

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease and is still a public health problem in Malaysia. In 1926, the Leper Enactment Act was established which required compulsory notification and isolation of leprosy patients. As a result, the National Leprosy Control Centre (NLCC) was built in Sungai Buloh, Selangor. In 1969, the National Leprosy Control programme was launched with the objective of early case finding and decentralisation of treatment of leprosy. The treatment of leprosy patients is integrated with basic Medical and Health services in Malaysia. With the implementation of multiple drug therapy in 1985, the National prevalence rate of leprosy has reduced from 5.7 per 10,000 in 1983 to 1.7 per 10,000 in 1992. The Research Unit in NLCC was established in 1950, where cultivation of Mycobacterium leprae using mouse foot-pad technique is done. This technique is used for assessment of efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents in leprosy. Research activites are also done in collaboration with the Institute for Medical Research in Kuala Lumpur such as isolation of Mycobacterium leprae antigen using T cell clones and phenolic glycolipid antigen.

Animals↗

Transformation of a leprosy hospital in Nepal into a rehabilitation centre: the Green Pastures Hospital experience.

Green Pastures Hospital for leprosy patients in Pokhara Nepal, was established in 1957 by the International Nepal Fellowship (INF) in a decade which saw the establishment of many similar hospitals in other leprosy endemic countries. In recent years, mainly due to significant improvements in leprosy control services and the wide implementation of multiple drug therapy (MDT) for all patients, many of these specialist hospitals have encountered 1) a decline in prevalence rate, 2) a large decline in the percentage of patients presenting with WHO grade 2 disability, 3) a decline in the previous indications for hospital admission, e.g. immunologically mediated reactions, and 4) a need to develop financial independence making them less dependent on donor agencies. In addition, the decision to change from specialist to general services opened up the possibility of using facilities and expertise for the rehabilitation of non-leprosy affected persons, whilst also moving towards the reduction of stigma and prejudice against patients with leprosy. This paper describes the process of 'transformation' of an established and well known leprosy hospital in Western Nepal from 1997 onwards into a general rehabilitation hospital. Careful preparation, with full involvement of existing staff and co-operation with other agencies in the hospital catchment area were key factors in what has now become a successful venture. Surgical procedures and orthopaedic appliance services for non-leprosy affected persons have increased in recent years and the introduction of a dermatology service has resulted in out-patient attendance rising from about 1000 in 1999 to 4500 in 2003. No evidence of reluctance to attend and use the facilities offered by this hospital because of stigma against leprosy has been encountered. Many of the changes described have been made in order to reduce financial dependence on donor sources of support, but the underlying reason for transformation is still based on the vision of the INF mission to work for and improve the condition of the marginalized in society.

Hospitals, Chronic Disease↗

Prevalence of leprosy in Agra District (U.P.) India from 2001 to 20031.

Leprosy prevalence has reportedly declined all over the world, but six countries, including India, are still endemic for the disease. India alone contributes about 60% to the world's leprosy case load, with the major share from its northern states. The present study done in Agra district was based on a randomly-selected sample of over 10% of the population, spread across 300 villages and 16 urban units of the district. A house-to-house survey was conducted from July 2001 to July 2003 in all the 26 selected panchayats (300 villages), all the 11 block headquarters which have an urban component, and 5 (out of 20) localities in Agra city. A population of 361,321 persons was examined for leprosy. A total of 592 leprosy cases [new and cases yet to complete a full course of multi-drug therapy (M.D.T.)] were found, giving a prevalence rate of 16.4/10,000 population. Although the overall prevalence was found to be similar in both rural and urban areas, there were pockets with high prevalence. More cases were detected in the eastern side of Agra (31.4/10,000 in Fatehabad and 28.5/10,000 in Bah Tahsils). Overall, the multibacillary (MB) leprosy rate was 22.3% and the child leprosy rate 8.4%. Of the 592 cases, 523 (88.3%) were new untreated cases, giving a new case detection rate of 14.5/10,000. The MB rate was 17% (89/523), and the child leprosy rate was 8.4% (44/523) among the new patients. The grade 2 deformity rate was found to be 4.8% (25/523) among these cases. The duration of disease among new cases was 32.3 months as compared to 48.1 months among prevalent (registered) cases (i.e., patients who had been diagnosed earlier and had yet to complete a full course of M.D.T.). The large number of undetected cases found in this survey suggests the need for continued intensive health education campaigns and case detection activities. This study highlights the fact that a large number of leprosy cases go undetected in the present integrated system which is mainly based on voluntary reporting of cases.

Adolescent↗

Cyclosporine A treatment of leprosy patients with chronic neuritis is associated with pain control and reduction in antibodies against nerve growth factor.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic neuritis (CN) is still a major problem in leprosy and is difficult to manage in patients who do not respond well to prednisone. In this study we (i) evaluate the efficacy of cyclosporine A (CyA) in controlling CN patients, and (ii) analyse the presence of anti-NGF antibodies in the sera of leprosy patients, and their behaviour during CyA treatment. DESIGN: This was an open, prospective, non-comparative study. Sixty-seven leprosy patients in three different institutions in Pará, Brazil were studied from January, 2001 to January, 2004. Of these, 47 had no CN and 20 were leprosy patients suffering from CN and taking at least 40 mg/day prednisone to control nerve impairment and pain. Patients received 12 months reducing course CyA starting at 5 mg/kg per day. The outcome measure was sensory impairment, assessed using Semmes-Weinstein monofilament examination (SWME), muscular force and spontaneous or palpation-related pain. RESULTS: Antibodies against NGF were detected in the sera of leprosy patients, which may explain the depletion of NGF in leprosy contributing to neuritis, inflammation and loss of cutaneous nociception. The levels of these antibodies in CN patients were slightly lower than in patients with no CN. However, anti-NGF titres in CN patients treated with CyA were lowered to levels similar to those in the normal subjects. There was also improvement in sensory impairment, muscular force and pain. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that anti-NGF antibodies are present in the sera of leprosy patients and may influence the outcome of neuritis, and that CyA might be a useful drug in controlling nerve impairment and pain in leprosy patients.

Animals↗

Serum antibodies against peripheral nervous system antigens in leprosy.

Since antibodies against peripheral nervous system (PNS) antigens may play a pathogenetic role in the mechanism of nerve damage in leprosy, sera from leprosy patients and contacts were investigated for anti-PNS antibodies by ELISA and immunoblot. In ELISA, elevated anti-PNS antibody levels were detected in 4 of 98 (4.1%) leprosy patients (4 of 52, 7.7%, lepromatous leprosy patients), in 1 of 28 (3.6%) contacts, and in 1 of 18 (5.6%) normal controls. There was no correlation between anti-PNS antibody levels and the bacterial index or neuropathy in leprosy. Immunoblot with a sample of six leprosy and five control sera showed that the antigenic binding pattern (mainly within the 100-200-kDa region) was very similar in patients and controls. Staining intensity, however, appeared to be higher with the leprosy sera than with the control sera. IgM and IgG were found to contribute to the staining pattern: IgM in the 150-200-kDa range, IgG with multiple bands between 25 kDa and 200 kDa. Thus, the presence and levels of serum anti-PNS antibodies in leprosy appear to be unrelated to parameters of disease activity, neuropathy in particular, and do not seem to be critically involved in the pathogenesis of nerve damage.

Antibody Specificity↗

The value of IgM antibodies to PGL-I in the diagnosis of leprosy.

An ELISA has been used to measure IgM antibodies to phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) in previously undiagnosed patients who were suspected of leprosy on purely clinical grounds. The certainty of clinical diagnosis was classified as either "firm" or "indefinite." Leprosy was confirmed in 133 of 161 patients on the basis of positive slit-skin smears and/or skin and/or nerve histopathology. All 58 patients with multibacillary leprosy (BB, BL, or LL) were correctly diagnosed clinically, as were 50 of 54 patients (93%) with a firm diagnosis of BT or TT leprosy. The firm clinical diagnoses were more accurate than either the slit-skin smear or ELISA data. However, there were 44 patients (27% of total), designated "rule out leprosy" (RO), for whom the clinical diagnosis was indefinite. The clinical suspicion of leprosy (RO) was correct in only 24 (55%) of these patients who had BT leprosy. The slit-skin smears were positive in only 20% of these patients compared to 50% for the ELISA. It was concluded that the PGL-I IgM ELISA may have its greatest diagnostic confirmatory value in paucibacillary disease because paucibacillary leprosy comprises the major source of clinical diagnostic difficulty.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗

Immuno-epidemiological studies on subclinical infection in leprosy, II. Geographical distribution of seropositive responders with special reference to their possible source of infection.

The percentage of positive fluorescent leprosy antibody absorption (FLA-ABS) tests showed significant differences among the inhabitants of different regions in Okinawa. Provided that this percentage indicates the frequency of subclinical leprosy infections, the numbers of inhabitants with subclinical infection per new case with leprosy in the same region ranged from 723 to 3,039. The FLA-ABS test was positive in 16.2% of adults in Minami daito Island where no new case with leprosy was found during the survey for seven years. The differences in the percentages could not be explained by the different prevalence and incidence rates of leprosy in each region nor by the differences in age and sex of the individuals examined. A significant correlation between the FLA-ABS tests and neural signs or symptoms was found in 3 regions. None of adults in Minami daito Island showed such signs or symptoms. The distribution of FLA-ABS positive and negative responders in two hamlets where the incidence of leprosy was relatively high suggested the localization of positive responders surrounding houses in which a leprosy case had recently been found and also the distribution of positive responders in the remote houses. These facts seem to indicate that a possible source of infection to the majority of positive responders might be from the environment rather than from direct contact with leprosy patients.

Adolescent↗

Medical care delivery through leprosy clinics--consumer's perception, experiences and suggestions.

Randomly selected 500 adult leprosy patients, registered for treatment with six Sectors of a Leprosy Control Unit in Chingleput District of Tamil Nadu (India) were interviewed to study their perception, and experiences with medical care being delivered to them through leprosy clinic(s), and their suggestions to improve the system. About 14% patients did not perceive their disease as leprosy. And 8% of the total patients were taking treatment outside their sector leprosy clinics. The services like physiotherapy, rehabilitation, health education etc. were known to only 3-8% patients, perhaps on account of their non-availability and or non-practice. On an average, a patient had to cover a distance of 2.1 +/- 2.5 KMs (one side) in 24 +/- 49 minutes to reach clinic spot, mostly by walk (83.2%), and spent 58.9 +/- 32.2 minutes at clinic, of which two third in waiting for service(s). Each patient had consulted 1.23 +/- 0.55 medical agencies for treatment of leprosy. The average man-day and wage losses to a patient, due to monthly clinic attendance, were estimated to be 0.48 +/- 0.49 days and Rs. 2.28 +/- 3.06, respectively. Only 10.6% of the 500 patients got admitted 1.55 +/- 0.89 times in leprosy hospital for a duration of 63 +/- 69.30 days and lost wages of Rs. 126.4 +/- 85.64 per month of stay in hospital. Availability and efficient delivery of comprehensive medical care through well organized and regularly conducted leprosy clinic, by considerate and sympathetic staff was much emphasised by patients. Various factors influencing medical care delivery and its utilization by patients, are discussed in this communication.

Adolescent↗

L.D.H. isoenzymes sub-unit ratio in leprosy and the effect of clofazimine treatment on L.D.H. isoenzymes sub-unit.

The clinical material for our studies of serum total LDH activity and LDH isoenzymes in leprosy included 255 patients consisting of Tuberculoid (74), Lepromatous leprosy (116), and Lepromatous leprosy with lepra reaction (65). 20 patients with suspected DDS resistance and repeated attacks of lepra reactions were selected for Clofazimine studies. All leprosy patients exhibited higher total LDH activity as compared to normals. M/H ratio was significantly increased in patients of Lepromatous leprosy and correlated closely with the clinical severity and advancement of disease. Tuberculoid leprosy patients showed values close to normals. Hence M/H ratio could demarcate two polar types of leprosy i.e. Tuberculoid and Lepromatous leprosy. Clofazimine treatment over a period of one year in patients with suspected DDS resistance and repeated attacks of lepra reaction decreased total LDH activity and M/H ratio considerably. Fall in M/H ratio during Clofazimine treatment could be attributed to the clearance of 'M' subunits by the drug due to removal of blockade of R.E.S. system produced by lepra bacilli.

Clofazimine↗

[Current difficulties in leprosy control and proposals to foster the campaigns in French-speaking African countries].

In a great number of francophone African countries, Leprosy Control is failing. Early case finding and contact detection become deficient. Some countries, which have maintained multifunction mobile sanitary structures, issued from the French Service of Grandes Endémies Organization, record good results in Leprosy Control. The interest of early case finding is recalled, because 80% of new leprosy cases are discovered in systematic and periodic screening in non leprosy contact population. The Leprosy Control falling down reasons are reviewed and resolutions for improvement of existent health services are proposed. The priority should be given in strengthening of existent mobile services: either lightly multifunction teams under Grandes Endémies Service supervision nor itinerant medical workers based on dispensaries integrated in Health Primary Care structures. This strengthening must coexist with an increased contribution of general or private clinics and with a real information of sanitary and administrative authorities associated to good information of people. It is necessary that each African country choose a national leprosy medical officer for Leprosy Control. It should be better to follow example of some countries which have achieved some positive results in Leprosy Control by an operational strategy, adapted to African meaning, and sustained by the important aid of ILEP associations.

Africa, Central↗

A study of ocular complications in leprosy.

A total of 380 leprosy patients were studied in four different leprosy hospitals. The involvement of eye was found in 18.95% of cases in which 10.97% in lepromatous leprosy and 8.16% in non-lepromatous leprosy cases. In total cases studied 52.63% were of lepromatous leprosy and 47.37% of non lepromatous leprosy cases. Among them 11.05% were males and 18.95% were females. In 72 cases of ocular involvement, males constituted 80.56% and females 19.44% of cases. Maximum cases (52.78%) of ocular involvement were in leprosy patient with 5 to 10 years of duration. Blindness among the total leprosy patients studied was 1.84% which was mainly due to corneal opacity following exposure keratitis and ulceration, iridocyclitis and its complications.

Adolescent↗

Socio-economic experiences of leprosy patients.

225 adult leprosy patients were interviewed to study their socio-economic experiences, about various aspects of their lives. It was observed that 17.34%, 14.33% and 45.78% of patients experienced negative reactions from their families, spouses and society members, respectively. Out of 79 unmarried patients, 53 (67.1%) attributed leprosy as the only reason for not getting a partner for marriage. Out of 146 married patients, 34 (23.3%) were not living with their spouses; this also included 9 (6.2%) patients, deserted by their partners. Leprosy uprooted 44 (13.55%) patients from their residences, of whom 27 settled in leprosy village/settlement. The occupational status of 104 (46.22%) patients was adversely affected due to leprosy, of whom 43 became dependents and 17 beggars. Monthly income of 115 (51.1%) patients reduced to the extent of 84%, after getting leprosy. The social prejudice and deformities due to leprosy, have played key roles in socio-economic deterioration of patients. The leprosy control programme (LCP) need to be implemented more efficiently and effectively, with active involvement of communities. The socio-medical units, if included in LCP, may be utilized more effectively to prevent the socio-economic dehabilitation of patients, as well to tackle the abnormal psycholygical behaviours of patients.

Adult↗