Trends in new case-detection leprosy in Bihar, India.
Multi-drug therapy (MDT) has been successfully implemented in all leprosy endemic countries. Prevalence of leprosy has declined remarkably after the introduction of MDT. Detection of new cases did not show expected decline in many endemic and low endemic situations. Bihar in India started implementing MDT in 1993. The Damien Foundation India Trust (DFIT) supported the leprosy control programme in Bihar by providing a district technical support team (DTST) for each district assigned to DFIT. Effective coverage was achieved in 1996-98. Data for the period 1996-2004 from 10 districts are presented in this paper. The total population in these districts was 29.4 million. Deformity among newly detected leprosy patients declined to 1% indicating effective early case-detection. Intensive new case-detection activities were in vogue contributing to high new case-detection rate (NCDR). The NCDR remained high during the 9-year period reported here and did not show any declining trend.
Vijayakumaran
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The Damien Foundation India Trust, 14 Venugopal Avenue, Spurtank Road, Chetpet, Chennai 600 031, India. damienin@touchtelindia.net
Prasad
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B
Krishnamurthy
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P
D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence; D011634:Public Health; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007917:Leprostatic Agents