A 10-year retrospective descriptive study on pure neuritic leprosy from a tertiary referral centre

• Main Authors: Jouhar Jabeen Kolleri (Author), Sarita Sasidharanpillai (Author), Bindu Vadakkayil (Author), Anuradha Thalian Chathoth (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications, 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Context: Pure neuritic leprosy is a risk factor for grade 2 disability owing to the early nerve damage. Aims: To study the clinical patterns of neuritic leprosy, to determine the percentage of patients manifesting grade 2 disability at the time of diagnosis and to identify any risk factors for the same. Settings and Design: Retrospective descriptive study from previous case records of pure neuritic leprosy patients who attended a tertiary centre from 1st July 2007 to 30th June 2017. Subjects and Methods: Data on patients who satisfied the World Health Organization (WHO) cardinal criteria for diagnosis of leprosy, who had no skin lesion of leprosy and had acid-fast bacilli negative status on skin smears were collected using a pre-set proforma. Statistical Analysis Used: The Chi-square test was used to assess statistical significance and logistic regression model was applied to avoid the effects of confounding factors. Results: A diagnostic delay of >1 year was observed in 44% patients. At the time of diagnosis, grade 2 disability was documented in 60 (80%) of patients. No statistically significant risk factor was identified for grade 2 disability. Limitations: Retrospective nature and the study conducted in a tertiary care centre not reflecting the status in the community were the limitations. Conclusions: Grade 2 disability noted in 80% of patients points to the inherent nature of disease to cause early nerve damage. Diagnostic delay of >1 year documented in 44% of patients underscores the diagnostic challenges in the absence of skin lesions.

Item Description

2229-5178
10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_118_18