The considerable variation in leprosy prevalence among 35 villages and field areas in South India was compared with variations in their socioeconomic and nutritional conditions. Using villages/field areas and aggregates thereof as observational units, leprosy prevalence rates were found to be significantly lower in field areas than in villages. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the occurrence of malnutrition in children 1 to 4 years of age and the prevalence of leprosy. The possible association between the occurrence of malnutrition in childhood and leprosy is discussed in light of the present knowledge of leprosy, immunocompetence, and malnutrition. Strategies for further illumination of the hypothesized importance of malnutrition among children are discussed.
BT - International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association C1 -https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3878858
DA - 12/1985 IS - 4 J2 - Int J Lepr Other Mycobact Dis LA - eng N2 -The considerable variation in leprosy prevalence among 35 villages and field areas in South India was compared with variations in their socioeconomic and nutritional conditions. Using villages/field areas and aggregates thereof as observational units, leprosy prevalence rates were found to be significantly lower in field areas than in villages. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the occurrence of malnutrition in children 1 to 4 years of age and the prevalence of leprosy. The possible association between the occurrence of malnutrition in childhood and leprosy is discussed in light of the present knowledge of leprosy, immunocompetence, and malnutrition. Strategies for further illumination of the hypothesized importance of malnutrition among children are discussed.
PY - 1985 SP - 524 EP - 32 T2 - International journal of leprosy and other mycobacterial diseases : official organ of the International Leprosy Association TI - Geographical variations in the occurrence of leprosy: possible roles played by nutrition and some other environmental factors. VL - 53 SN - 0148-916X ER -