title: Current profile of active leprosy in Greece; a five-year retrospective study (1988-1992).
abstract: The epidemiological characteristics of newly diagnosed, active leprosy cases (incidence, N = 16 Greeks and 4 expatriates) and relapsed cases (recurrences, N = 25, all Greeks) were studied. Most of the cases were multibacillary, over 50% being lepromatous. The relapses were analyzed by sex, disease duration and residence (rural or urban). Most of the newly diagnosed cases presented with nonreactional skin lesions (70%). The relapses were self-reported and detected mainly because of type 2 leprosy reactions (56%). The main source of the infection for new cases was members of their former extended family. The statistical trend of leprosy in Greece is a continuing decline in a country which already has a very low endemicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, West Attica General Hospital and Leprosy Center, Greece.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kyriakis
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kontochristopoulos
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Panteleos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015439:Leprosy, Borderline / Q000453:epidemiology; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000453:epidemiology; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies