Current scenario of leprosy patients taking multidrug therapy

Objective To assess cutaneous and mucocutaneous lesions in leprosy patients taking multidrugtherapy.Patients and methods The present cross-sectional study was conducted after receiving approvalfrom the ethical committee of the Datta Meghe institute of Medical Sciences University .The studypopulation comprised of 30 admitted leprosy patients for taking multidrug treatment. All thepatients were in-patients and residing at Leprosy Rehabilitation Center Worora for treatment. The written consent was taken from all the patients. The study was conducted over a period of 7 days. All the clinical findings observed in leprosy patients were recorded in pro forma containing separate column for each finding. The recorded data were tabulated and analyzed using chi square test and student t- test. Results Patches were the most common type of cutaneous lesions (90%) observed in leprosy patients taking multi drug therapy, followed by ichthyosis/dryness of skin (60%), atrophy (26.75%), hair loss(20%) while only 13.4% patients showed papules and infiltrated lesions. There was multiple nerve involvement in patients taking multi drug therapy; out of that ulnar nerve is most commonly affected followed by radial nerve and post auricular nerve. Deformities found in these patients were in the form of claw hand (16.7%), lagophthalmos (13.4%), ulcer (6.7%) and absorption (3.3%). Conclusion Early detection of leprosy cases not only helps in reduction of the transmission of Mycobacterium leprae, but also to reduce leprosy attributable disability and avoid complication from chronic infectious disease