Epidemiology of Leprosy During the Period From 2010 to 2022 in Mansoura, Egypt

Background: Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by acid-fast rod-shaped bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. It mostly affects the skin and peripheral nerves. WHO categorizes leprosy into two groups: paucibacillary, which has five or less skin lesions, and multibacillary, which has six or more.

Objectives: to estimate the annual case detection rate of leprosy in Mansoura dermatology and leprosy hospital, and to assess epidemiological trends of leprosy before and during COVID-19 pandemic in Egypt.

Methods: A cross sectional study included 289 patients who were diagnosed and registered as newly detected leprotic patients at leprosy clinic in Mansoura dermatology and leprosy hospital during 2010 and 2022.

Results: Annual case detection rate of leprosy has decreased gradually from 2010 to 2022 with the highest annual case detection rate in 2010 and lowest in 2022. Annual case detection rate of leprosy has been decreased from 4.001/1 million in 2010 to 0.861 /1 million in 2022.

Conclusions: The results of this retrospective analysis of leprosy data showed that annual case detection rate of leprosy in Dakahlia has stepped down from 4.001/1 million in 2010 to 0.861/1 million in 2022 and these records are very promising.