Leprosy trends at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai,India, from 2008 to 2015

Study conducted with a record review of new patients with leprosy registered in Vimala Dermatological Centre

From:
Department for International Development
Published
23 November 2016
Country:
India
Document Type:
Journal Article
Theme:
Health
Authors:
Muthuvel, Thirumugam, Isaakidis, Petros, Shewade, H.D, Kattuppara, L, Singh, Rajbir, Govindarajulu, S

Abstract

Background

Leprosy remains an important cause of preventable disabilities. After the advent of multidrug therapy, new leprosy cases have come down dramatically. Despite this achievement, India, which contributes 60% of the global leprosy burden, faces some challenges to eliminate the disease, including active transmission in the community and delayed diagnosis of leprosy patients.

Objectives

The objectives of the study were

  1. to determine sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of newly diagnosed adults and children (less than 15 years) with leprosy and their trends over time (2008–2015)

  2. to describe the profile of surgical procedures among leprosy patients registered for reconstructive surgeries during 2006–2015.

Design

Retrospective descriptive study was conducted involving a record review of new patients with leprosy registered in Vimala Dermatological Centre, Mumbai.

Results

A total of 578 new leprosy cases were registered in the hospital during 2008–2015. There has been a steady increase in the trend of child cases (less than 15 years) registered in the facility (from 3% in 2008 to 18% in 2015), x2=12.11, p<0.01. The majority of the patients (68%) were migrants of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Conclusions

Targeting children and migrants and ensuring early diagnosis and treatment initiation are essential components for leprosy elimination in an urban metropolis in India.

This research was supported by the UK Department for International Development’s Operational Research Capacity Building Programme led by the International Union Against TB and Lung Disease (The Union)

Citation

Thirumugam Muthuvel, Petros Isaakidis, Hemant Deepak Shewade, Lucy Kattuppara, , Rajbir Singh, Srinivas Govindarajulu Leprosy trends at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India, from 2008 to 2015. Global Health Action 2016; 9: 10.3402/gha.v9.32962.

Leprosy trends at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India, from 2008 to 2015

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Published 23 November 2016
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