A Retrospective Hospital Based Study on Deformities in Leprosy Patients in Leprosy Elimination and Post Covid Era in Southern India

Mycobacterium leprae is the causative agent of leprosy, a chronic illness that affects skin, and peripheral nerve system. Even after leprosy was officially proclaimed eliminated as a public health issue in India in December 2005, new leprosy cases continue to arise. While leprosy can be easily treated in most cases, disabilities in a section of leprosy are cause of immense concern. This study has been carried out to analyze the grade and type of deformity among leprosy patients attending Dermatology Department of Bangalore Medical College, a tertiary care hospital. The present retrospective hospital-based study was carried out on all leprosy patients attending Dermatology (outpatient and inpatient) with deformities were included in the study from 11 January 2023 to – 11 January 2024. 52/122 total leprosy cases (41.8%) attending our hospital had deformities/ disabilities. Out of a total 51 patients with deformities, thirty-six (70.6%) were male and 15 were female (29.4%), the mean age observed in our patients was 38.84 years. Most cases had lepromatous leprosy. Out of 51 patients, twenty-six cases (50.98%) had grade 1 deformities, and 25 cases (49.01%) had grade 2 deformities. Forty (78.43%) had a history of reactions. Forty-one (80.39%) cases were multibacillary (MB) and 10 (19.6%) patients were paucibacillary (PB) types. Clinical examination and basic examination can identify a variety of deformities. Early detection of illness and abnormalities can aid in informing patients about leprosy and preventing the disease’s progression to serious consequences, especially those resulting in disabilities. More extensive MB disease and reactions appear to be associated with disabilities. Two-third of the patients in this group reported with disabilities/ deformities which indicates the problem of access to early and appropriate management of leprosy and its complications. Whether the problem is due to ignorance or due to other enabling factors should be investigated. The present study indicates the need for further in-depth studies and appropriate interventions at community level.