Epidemiological study on disabilities of leprosy in newly detected patients in China, 1989 - 1998

Title:
Epidemiological study on disabilities of leprosy in newly detected patients in China, 1989 - 1998

Author:
Yan L, Zhang G, Li W, et al.

Address:
National Center for STD and Leprosy Control, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 12 Jiangwangmiao Road, Nanjing 210042, P. R. China

Source:
Chin J Dermatol. 2000, 33(S-1)

Abstract:
OBJECTIVES: To approach the status of leprosy disabilities in newly detected cases in recent 10 years in China and provide the scientific basis for formulating the prevention strategies. METHODS: Based upon the individual records from the National Leprosy Recording and Reporting System in National Center for STD and Leprosy Control, 22437 leprosy cases detected during 1989 -1998 in China were analyzed in terms of leprosy disability. RESULTS: The proportion of disabilities in newly detected leprosy cases in 1989 in whole country was 46.49% and decreased to 32.31% in 1998, and the proportions of cases with grade II disabilities were 25.55% (1989) and 20.23% (1998). There were 18 provinces where disability rate was more than 40%. Out of patients with disabilities, those with grades I and II disabilities and with deformities (loss of eyebrow, facial paralysis or saddle nose) accounted for 37.86%, 60.64% and 1.5%, respectively. There were 25 provinces where grade II disabilities accounted for more than 50% of all patients with disabilities. The disability rates in patients aged under 15 years, 15-65 years and over 65 years were 24%, 39.85% and 53.33%. The patients with a delay in detection of 2 years had a disability rate of 29.85%, and those with a delay of more than 2 years and 5 years had the rates of 48.82% and 61.17%, respectively. The disability rate was 52.9% in patients with leprosy reactions and 46.1% in patients with a damage of more than 3 nerves. The grade II disability rate in paucibacillary patients (28.99%) was significantly higher than that in multibacillary ones (22.04%). CONCLUSIONS: Disability rate of leprosy in newly detected cases is still high although it has decreased in the recent 10 years. The rate is associated with delay in detection, leprosy reaction and leprosy type. It suggests that early detection of leprosy patients, regular treatment with multidrug therapy, and management of leprosy reactions will be the effective measures to prevent disabilities of leprosy.

Key words: Leprosy Disability

Language: Chinese