02938nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653003700054100001300091700001000104700001500114700001300129700001200142700001300154700001200167700001100179245009100190856011000281300000800391490000700399520227600406022001402682       2022                            d  bMedknow10aAnesthesiology and Pain Medicine1 aRathod S1 aRao P1 aSuneetha S1 aNarang T1 aDogra S1 aSingal A1 aGupta S1 aVora R00aDermlep study part 3: Post-RFT events in leprosy patients presenting to dermatologists  uhttps://journals.lww.com/idoj/Fulltext/2022/13030/Dermlep_Study_Part_3__Post_RFT_Events_in_Leprosy.6.aspx  a3400 v133 a<h3>Introduction:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Presently the leprosy program has no defined&nbsp;surveillance&nbsp;protocols for patients who complete the fixed duration multidrug therapy and are released from treatment (RFT). Hence, the information about the post-RFT events in these patients is sparse and qualitative and quantitative data regarding their health care requirements is missing. During the&nbsp;<em>DermLep</em>&nbsp;survey carried out by the Indian Association of Dermatologists,Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL), a number of patients presented to dermatologists during the post RFT period for a variety of symptoms. This paper analyses the events in these patients during the post RFT period.</p>

<h3>Results:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>Out of a total of 3701 leprosy patients who presented to 201 dermatologists across India during the&nbsp;<em>DermLep</em>&nbsp;survey, 708 (26.2%) were in the post RFT period (488 males; 220 females). Of these, 21% were PB and 79% MB patients as per their treatment records. Majority were in the age group of 31-59 years (55.5%); however, a significant proportion of them (20.7%) were elderly (&gt;60 years). Majority of the patients (45.5%) presented within the first year of RFT with variable symptoms; 28% were between 1-5 years, 5.5% between 5-10 years; and 11.0% presented more than 10 years after RFT. Most common presenting complaint being persistent skin lesions as perceived by patients in 21.2%, followed by neuritis in 14.5%; trophic ulcers in 13.8%; deformities in 67 (11.8%); lepra reactions in 66 (11.6%); and recurrence of original symptoms in 6.7%.</p>

<h3>Conclusion:&nbsp;</h3>

<p>The&nbsp;<em>DermLep Surve</em>y highlights the importance of ‘post RFT’ patients as an important subset of leprosy patients who visit dermatologists for various health related issues. The most common complaints in this subset were active/persistent skin lesions, lepra reactions and neuritis. In these patients, who are a sub-group of ‘persons affected with leprosy’ the disease related issues can persist for many years post RFT. Hence, it is important to provide services in the programme to monitor and manage these complications for the prevention of impairments, disability and the related social issues.</p>
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