Indian journal of leprosy最新文献

In the era where Hansen's disease has achieved elimination status in India, co-infection with HIV can possibly cause a resurgence of this disease. A young intravenous drug abuser was found to have triple affliction, where HIV and HCV infection were discovered on testing after the patient was clinically diagnosed to have Hansen's disease. To our knowledge, there has been no case reported where leprosy was seen with HIV and HCV infection. We are reporting a patient with lepromatous Hansen's disease in type 2 reaction in whom HIV and HCV was incidentally diagnosed.

Leprosy is not a disease of modern civilization and industrialization, but its origin is as old as 4600 BC. Although the cure of leprosy is possible by MDT, there are certain misbelieves in the mind of leprosy patients leads to delay in disease reporting. Wandering of the patient from one healer to another healer also one of the cause that delays the start of MDT. It is known fact that the delayed response in getting medical treatment for leprosy causes permanent physical deformities in the patient. This study is aimed to identify the treatment behavior of leprosy patients on time scale. A total of 251 study subjects were selected randomly attending the Skin & VD OPD of S S Hospital of IMS, BHU, Varanasi. Questions related to treatment behavior on time scale were administered to leprosy patients aged 15 years or above by the interviewer himself. Time gap to start the initial treatment was significantly less in MB cases (5.3 months) as compared to PB cases (7.2 months). MB cases wasted significantly more time with allopathic treatment other than MDT. Urban patients (1.3 months) wasted more time with homeopathy than the rural patients (0.9 months). More than half the cases (51.4%) went for the treatment within three months of noticing symptoms of leprosy. There is a considerable delay in starting the MDT after noticing the first symptom of leprosy. As early as possible, measures to start the proper treatment i.e. MDT should be taken to avoid permanent disability due to leprosy.

A multistage representative random sample of women and men from each of the 3 states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, from the rural blocks where the Leprosy Mission Hospitals were located were selected during 2010 to identify relevant factors that are preventing active participation of women and suggest corrective steps. Adult men and women were interviewed in depth, using a detailed checklist by the first author. A total of 1239 respondents 634 women and 605 men, were interviewed, only 44 women (7%) claimed that they had earlier participated in leprosy work, about 92% of the women felt that they had the potential to take part in leprosy work, and 70% showed willingness to participate. Factors that would encourage and facilitate more women to participate in leprosy work, included financial support (32.8%), convincing the family to grant permission (88%), and delegating them to work in proximity to their residences (15%). Some women respondents (11.0%) felt that they would provide their services voluntarily for social good. Women suggested that work should be delegated as per their capabilities and skills, and they should be given proper orientation, training and guidance. Hardly 5% of ASHA's in the clusters examined participated in leprosy related work, which needs stringent steps to re-orient and encourage them to undertake leprosy related work. It is concluded that rural Indian women are keen to play an important role in the national leprosy eradication program, with minimal support from the government and nongovernmental agencies in a truly community-based approach. This will benefit vast numbers of leprosy affected women as well as others.

The concept of disabilities has undergone changes in recent years and disability is no longer a mere physical dysfunction. It includes activity limitations, stigma, discrimination, and social participation restrictions. In addition to the presence of an illness or impairment, the understanding of disability now explores the relationship between disease/illness/impairment, the persons functioning within daily activities/social roles, and the social, cultural, and physical environments that enable or limit an individual's ability to participate fully in his or her community and daily lives. International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) has recognized several dimensions of disability viz., body structure and function (and impairment thereof), activity (and activity restrictions) and participation (and participation restrictions). It also recognizes the role of physical and social environmental factors in affecting disability outcomes and has shifted the focus from the cause of disability to its effect, thereby emphasizing the role of the environment (physical, cultural, social, political) rather than focusing on disability as a 'medical' or 'biological' dysfunction. There is not much information available about these relationships in leprosy related disabilities. Studies are required in different patient groups having different socio-cultural background to develop a better understanding of these issues. Accordingly the need for services can be worked out for rehabilitation of the patients released from the treatment and "Cure".

As per the Guidelines of National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), Government of India, new case detection (NCD) in leprosy is to be promoted by voluntary reporting through Information, Education and Communication (IEC). Accordingly, in addition to the routine IEC activities, Maharashtra Lokahita Seva Mandal (MLSM) carried out Selective Special Drive (SSD) in slum pockets in Mumbai since 2005-06. The SSD methodology prescribed under Leprosy Elimination Action Program (LEAP) of ALERT-INDIA was adopted which included selection of slum pockets, identification and training of Community Volunteers (CVs), door-to-door focused IEC through CVs using standard IEC material and referral of voluntarily reported suspected cases to nearby Health Posts under General Health Services or to Leprosy Referral Centre (LRC) established through MLSM for diagnosis and treatment. During the years, 2005-06 to 2009-10, MLSM conducted five annual SSDs in 53 slum pockets having 187,391 house-holds with the total enumerated population of 882,114 of which 563,040 (63.8%) could be covered through house-to-house IEC by 772 trained CVs/CHVs. As a result, 108 new cases (PB - 79 and MB - 29) were detected with the NCD rate ranged between 13/100,000 and 34/100,000 which is much higher than the reported NCDR in Mumbai (i.e. 6/100,000). Of the new MB cases 6 were lepromatous leprosy cases. Voluntary reporting of new cases was also found to be enhanced during the subsequent period following SSD. SSD activity encourages intensified IEC with community participation and integrates General Health Services resulting into better voluntary reporting of new cases. It is, therefore recommended that the SSD with the methodology prescribed under LEAP may be considered for incorporation in NLEP.

Leprosy stands tall among the oldest and most misunderstood diseases of man. Today leprosy is easily treated; unfortunately, persistent misconceptions result in unnecessary stigmatization. Thus the present study aims to assess the knowledge and attitudes regarding leprosy in people with and without leprosy, factors affecting the same; and to study their relationship with treatment status in leprosy patients. Detailed knowledge and attitude questionnaires were administered to 260 subjects (100 leprosy patients, 60 family members of leprosy patients and 100 people with non-leprosy skin diseases) at AIIMS, New Delhi. Crude scores based on subject responses were used for inter-group comparisons. Leprosy patients had significantly higher knowledge scores than family members who in turn scored significantly higher than people with other skin diseases. Leprosy patients had fair knowledge about common symptoms, but awareness about MDT was low. Delayed diagnosis and non-compliance were common. Attitudes did not differ between groups. Fear of the leprosy-affected and reluctance for physical contact, food sharing and marriage were prominent. Treated leprosy patients had the highest knowledge scores. Higher education and greater knowledge scores were positive predictors of attitude. Knowledge and attitude scores showed significant positive correlation. Knowledge and attitude towards leprosy are unsatisfactory. Improving knowledge may help to improve attitudes. In the post-elimination era, we must incorporate education about the disease into routine care of leprosy patients and focus on community education about leprosy.

Lupus vulgaris is a variant of cutaneous tuberculosis. As the disease has potential to mutilate when left untreated, leaving deforming scars and disfigurement, an early diagnosis is of paramount importance. Though the common type is plaque type, rarely mutilating and vegetative forms also are found. A 28 year old female, labourer presented with progressive annular plaque over right side of cheek extending upto right lower lid and ala of nose. There were two satellite plaques near the right side of giant lesion. On diascopy apple jelly nodule was seen. There was no regional lymhadenopathy. Histopathological examination showed many granulomas in upper dermis extending to deep dermis comprising of epitheloid cells with langhans' type of giant cells, lymphocytic infiltration & focal necrosis suggestive of lupus vulgaris. The consequences of failing to make an early diagnosis can be disastrous for the patients, as the progression of the disease can lead to necrosis, destruction of bones and cartilage leading to permanent deformity. Thus it is vital for clinicians to have a high index of suspicion of such atypical forms and take biopsy samples for histological and bacteriological studies.

Hansen's disease is an infectious and degenerative chronic disease with a high potential for incapacitation. Due to the explosive epidemic of leprosy cases worldwide (especially in Brazil), the social difficulties faced by these patients are an important subject for research. This work aimed to identify the stigma experienced by these patients. The qualitative research for this study was completed at the National Reference Centre in Dermatology in Fortaleza. The study took place in northeast Brazil from September 2010 to November 2012. The research subjects included 20 people with Hansen's disease of both sexes between 20 and 70 years old. The data collection consisted of a semi-structured interview. From the discourse analysis of the participants, several changes experienced by persons affected by leprosy were noted from the empiric categories emerged. Changes occurred in the family, the receptiveness of neighbours and co-workers and the patients' social lives were experienced by the persons affected after the diagnosis of Hansen's disease. From the data obtained, it was concluded that the patients are stigmatised. Sometimes they are forced to hide from relatives, friends, neighbours and co-workers. Despite their social exclusion, they believe their isolation is justified. Leprosy is a chronic, degenerative and curable infectious illness that continues to be a serious public health problem, mainly in the poorest region of Brazil.

Leprosy remains to be a leading cause of peripheral neuropathy and disability. In recent years under Leprosy control programme more stress is being laid on disability assessment. This study was aimed to find prevalence of grade of Ocular disability among persons affected with leprosy (PAL) according to WHO disability grading scale and to find Ocular contributors to grade 2 disability in PAL. A cross sectional study was carried out in tertiary care hospital in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. About 302 PAL were interviewed and their eyes clinically examined during 2 years. Data was analysed in percentages, x2 test, Anova. Ocular disability was found in 39.40% persons affected with leprosy (PAL). Of 604 eyes, 13.07% had grade 1 disability and 19.86% had grade 2 disabilities. Bilateral disability was more common than unilateral disability. Ocular disability was more common in PAL with more than one year of leprosy and even higher in those staying in leprasoria (p = 0.012). The most common cause of ocular grade 2 disabilities was corneal involvement (14.23% PAL). Cataract was found to be the most common cause of visual disability (although it is not caused by leprosy). Screening for ocular disability should be incorporated as a routine protocol in PAL to reduce the severity of Ocular disability. Early diagnosis and prompt preventive measure is essential to reduce the burden of visual impairment and blindness in PALthus bringing down the load of grade 2 disability due to leprosy in the society which in itself is an indicator of leprosy control.