Analysis of newly detected leprosy in Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt, –

摘要

Introduction:Leprosy is achronic and complex infectious illness; the new-casedetection rate is better than prevalence as an indicator of disease trends. This studypresents an analysis of pattern of new cases of leprosy detected annually from 2004to 2008 in Sohag Governorate, Upper Egypt.Patients and methods:Data about patients with newly diagnosed leprosy werecollected from Sohag leprosy hospital, the main referral centre in the governorate.Case detection rates (CDR) were calculated for each year by dividing the newlydiagnosed cases by mid-year populations for the same year.Results:587 patients were newly diagnosed between 2004 and 2008. The meanage of patients at diagnosis was 34 years, 62% were males, and 11% were childrenbelow 15 years of age. The overall leprosy case detection rate was 3·1/100,000population and it decreased from 3·4/100,000 population in 2004 to 2·8/100,000population in 2008. Ninety three percent were classified as multibacillary, and 20·4%had Grade 2disability at diagnosis.Conclusions:Leprosy remains ahealth problem in Sohag Governorate. It ispossible that new cases are being detected late owing to inadequate communityawareness of the disease. Leprosy control activities should be provided in primaryhealth care units in order to detect new cases, and continued surveillance is requiredto detect relapses and to ensure good patient compliance with treatment