Title: Pattern and Complications of Leprosy among Patients attended Leprosy Clinic, Jesu Ashram, Siliguri, West Bengal: A 3 Years Record Based Study

Authors: Dr Louis Tirkey, Dr Rupanjli Lakra, Sr. Anthonia Arulandu FC

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i5.135

Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and widely prevalent in India. Deformities are the common complications of leprosy. Plantar ulceration is the commonest serious disability in leprosy and they occur in about 10–20% of leprosy patients.

Objectives:  This study was planned to know the pattern and complications of leprosy and to ascertain the socio-demographic profile of Leprosy cases.

Methods: A record based cross-sectional study was conducted for 3 months in 2019. All the registered cases of Leprosy patients at the Leprosy Clinic, Jesu Ashram, Siliguri, West Bengal, during last 3 years (2016 – 2018) were included in the study, and their relevant records were reviewed using predesigned schedule. Collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical measures.

Results: There were total 884 cases. Male to female ratio was 2.14:1. Total 1.4% were children. 162 (19.2%) patients gave family history of leprosy, 531 (62.9%) were from rural area. The most common type was Multi-bacillary leprosy 659 (78.1%). Total 695 (82.3%) of the patients had Plantar ulcer deformity and 819 (97%) of the cases had absent nerve sensation. 

Conclusion: Majority of patients had plantar ulcer deformity. It indicates that the patients were not aware of it & not sought the consultation for the same at the earliest. Cases of Multi-bacillary (MB) leprosy are predominant. There is a need of strong follow-up system for defaulters in order to reduce the deformities.

Keywords: Leprosy, Pattern of Leprosy, Deformity, Plantar ulcer.

References

  1. Park K. Park’s Textbook of Preventive & Social Medicine. Leprosy. Ms. Banarasidas Bhanot Publishers; 25th Edition. 2019: 342-357.
  2. Jindal N, Shanker V, Tegta GR, Gupta M, Verma GK. Clinico-epidemiological Trends of Leprosy in Himachal Pradesh: A Five Year Study. Indian J Lepr. 2009;81:173-9.
  3. Price EW. The problem of plantar ulcer. Lepr Rev, 1964; 35: 267–272.
  4. Andersen JG. Plantar ulcers in leprosy: their pathogenesis and natural history, and their therapy and prevention.Lepr Rev, 1961; 32: 16–26.
  5. Srinivasan H. Trophic ulcers in leprosy III: surgical management of chronic foot ulceration. Lepr Ind, 1964; 27:186–193.
  6. Leprosy disabilities: magnitude of the problem. Wkly Epidemiol Rec, 1995; 70: 269–275.
  7. Croft RP, Richards JH, Nicholls PG, Smith WLS. Nerve function impairment in leprosy: design, methodology and intake status of a prospective cohort study of 2664 new leprosy cases in Bangladesh (The Bangladesh Acute Nerve Damage Study). Lepr Rev, 1995; 70: 140–159.
  8. Bryceson A, Pfaltzgraff RE, Leprosy 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1990, p. 165.
  9. Liwen D, Futian W, Zaiming W et al. Techniques for covering soft tissue defects resulting from plantar ulcers in leprosy: Part I- general considerations and summary of results. Ind. J Lepr, 1999; 71: 285–295.
  10. Gahalaut P, Pinto J, Pai G, et al. A novel treatment of plantar ulcers in leprosy: local superficial flaps. Lepr Rev. 2005;76:220–231.
  11. Kadam YR, Ashtekar RS, Pawar VR, Pimpale AN. A study of leprosy patients attended tertiary care hospital. Int J Community Med Public Health 2016;3:3419-22.
  12. Singh A, Gaur R, Ambey R. Spectrum of leprosy patients with clinic-histopathological correlation: A hospital based study. Asian J Med Sci. 2013;4(4):11-6.
  13. Suri SK, Iyer RR, Patel DU, Bandil S, Baxi S. Histopathology & clinicohisto-pathological correlation in Hansen’s Disease. J Res Med Dental Sci. 2014;2(1):37-43.
  14. Parekh R, Mulchndani V, Parakh KK. Clinico-histopathological correlation in leprosy: A tertiary care hospital based study at Udaypur. IJSR. 2015;4(10):56-8.
  15. Niang SO, Diallo M, Ndiaye M, Diop A, Diatta B.A, Wadih M, Kane A, Dieng MT, Badiane CI. Epidemiological & clinic pathologic aspects of leprosy in Dakar; evaluation of 73 new cases. Dermatology Reports. 2011:3(e18):40-2.
  16. Giridhar M, Arora G, Lajpal K, Chahal K.S. Clinicohistopathological concordance in leprosy: A clinical, histopathological & bacteriological study of 100 cases. Indian J Lepr. 2012;84:217-25.
  17. Vora RV, Diwan NG, Patel NH, Singhal RR, Ashok P. Clinico-histopathological correlation in leprosy: A study at a rural based tertiary care centre, Gujrat. Indian J Clinical & Experimental Dermatology. 2016;2(1):23-6.
  18. Singh I, Lavania M, Nigam A, Ravindra P, Turank A.R, Ahuja M, John A.S, Sengupta U. Symposium on emerging needs in leprosy research in the post elimination era: The Leprosy Mission Trust India.Lepr Rev. 2016;87:132-43.
  19. Chaitra P, Bhat RM. Post elimination status of childhood leprosy: Report from a tertiary care hospital in South India. BioMed Research International 2013. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1155/2013/328673.
  20. Rizvi AA, Sharma YK, Dash K, Tyagi N, Yadava R, Sadana D. An epidemiological and clinic-histopathological study of leprosy in semi-urban area under Pimpari Chinchwad Municipal Corporation in Pune district of Maharashtra. Med J Dr. D. Y. Patil University. 2015;8(5):609-13.

Corresponding Author

Dr Louis Tirkey

Assistant Professor, Community Medicine, North Bengal Medical College

P.O. Sushrutnagar, West Bengal, India, Pin: 734012