Impact of MDT on incidence rates of leprosy among household contacts. Part 1. Baseline data.
This preliminary study from Gudiyatham Taluk, the leprosy control area of the Schieffelin Leprosy Research & Training Centre, investigated the incidence rates of leprosy among household contacts during the period 1970-1985. The incidence rates of leprosy among the household contacts prior to and during the initiation of multi-drug therapy are presented here. The overall incidence rate among the household contacts was 4 per 1000 person-years at risk. Contacts of multibacillary and paucibacillary cases had a relative risk of 3-6 times and 2-4 times the risk of leprosy in the general population, respectively. The incidence rates among children were higher than adults; the peak age-specific incidence rate was between 5-9 years, and nearly one third of the primary cases were children. These findings are presented and the methodological issues discussed.
Sundar Rao
P S
PS
Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
Jesudasan
K
K
Mani
K
K
Christian
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D008297:Male
D007917:Leprostatic Agents