Geographical variations in the occurrence of leprosy: possible roles played by nutrition and some other environmental factors.

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.