title: Study of the characteristics and causes of relapse amongst leprosy cases in an urban area (Calcutta).
abstract: In this retrospective study of the 3737 cases of leprosy released from treatment and followed-up during 1975 to 1990, 63 had relapsed giving an overall relapse rate of 1.69%. The relapse rate was significantly higher in the immunologically unstable N?L (Borderline) cases (2.9%). It was also higher in those who had dapsone monotherapy (1.92%) compared to those who had multidrug therapy (1.01%). The relapse rate was higher in the 10 to 29 years age group and among those who became pregnant suggesting puberty and pregnancy could be risk factors. Males had a significantly higher relapse rate (2.1%) than females (1.1%). 45.2% of relapses in N (Non-lepromatous) cases occurred within 24 months and 71.4% within 36 months of stopping treatment. In those having monotherapy, 57.1% of relapses occurred within 24 months and 76.8% within 36 months. Regularity in treatment did not seem to have much influence on relapse rates.
authors.affiliation: Greater Calcutta Leprosy Treatment & Health Education Scheme Grecaltes, Calcutta.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Das
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D007918:Leprosy / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014504:Urban Health