Dataset Information

The spatial distribution of leprosy cases during 15 years of a leprosy control program in Bangladesh: an observational study.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: An uneven spatial distribution of leprosy can be caused by the influence of geography on the distribution of risk factors over the area, or by population characteristics that are heterogeneously distributed over the area. We studied the distribution of leprosy cases detected by a control program to identify spatial and spatio-temporal patterns of occurrence and to search for environmental risk factors for leprosy. METHODS: The houses of 11,060 leprosy cases registered in the control area during a 15-year period (1989-2003) were traced back, added to a geographic database (GIS), and plotted on digital maps. We looked for clusters of cases in space and time. Furthermore, relationships with the proximity to geographic features, such as town center, roads, rivers, and clinics, were studied. RESULTS: Several spatio-temporal clusters were observed for voluntarily reported cases. The cases within and outside clusters did not differ in age at detection, percentage with multibacillary leprosy, or sex ratio. There was no indication of the spread from one point to other parts of the district, indicating a spatially stable endemic situation during the study period. The overall risk of leprosy in the district was not associated with roads, rivers, and leprosy clinics. The risk was highest within 1 kilometer of town centers and decreased with distance from town centers. CONCLUSION: The association of a risk of leprosy with the proximity to towns indicates that rural towns may play an important role in the epidemiology of leprosy in this district. Further research on the role of towns, particularly in rural areas, is warranted.

SUBMITTER: Fischer E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2564934 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundLeprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, predominantly affecting the peripheral nerves, resulting in sensory and motor deficits in the feet. Foot ulcers and imbalances are frequent manifestations in leprosy, often correlating with diminished sensitivity. While clinical scales and monofilament esthesiometers are conventionally utilized to evaluate foot sensitivity and balance in these patients, their discriminatory power is limited and their effectiveness is greatly dependent on the examiner's proficiency. In contrast, baropodometry and posturography offer a more comprehensive evaluation, aiming to preempt potential damage events. This study aimed was to assess the correlation between baropodometry and force plate measurements in leprosy patients and control participants, to improve the prevention and treatment of foot ulcers and complications associated with leprosy.MethodologyThis cross-sectional study was conducted during 2022 and enrolled 39 participants (22 patients with multibacillary leprosy and 17 non-leprosy controls). Demographic data were collected, and a monofilament esthesiometer was used to assess sensory deficits. In addition, physical examinations and balance and plantar pressure tests were conducted. The Student's t-test was used to compare mean and maximum plantar pressures between groups. For most COP variables, a Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon test was used, except for AP amplitude which was analyzed with the Student's t-test due to its normal distribution. The relationship between foot pressure and balance control was assessed using Spearman's correlation, focusing on areas with significant pressure differences between groups.Principal findingsLeprosy patients showed increased pressure in forefoot areas (T1, M1, T2-T5, and M2) and decreased pressure in hindfoot regions (MH and LH) compared to controls. These patients also displayed higher AP and ML amplitudes, suggesting poorer COP control. Correlation analyses between the two groups revealed that foot plantar pressures significantly impact balance control. Specifically, increased T1 region pressures correlated with greater sway in balance tasks, while decreased MH region pressures were linked to reduced COP control.Conclusions/significanceThe findings suggest a joint disturbance of plantar pressure distribution and static balance control in leprosy patients. These alterations may increase the risk of tissue injuries, including calluses and deformities, as well as falls.

Project description:BACKGROUND:Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease neglected, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, considered a public health problem because may cause permanent physical disabilities and deformities, leading to severe limitations. This review presents an overview of the results of epidemiological studies on leprosy occurrence in childhood in Brazil, aiming to alert health planners and managers to the actual need to institute special control strategies. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Data collection consisted of an electronic search for publications in eight databases: Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), PuBMed, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), SciVerse Scopus (Scopus), CAPES theses database, CAPES journals database and Web of Science of papers published up to 2016. After apply selection criteria, twenty-two papers of studies conducted in four different regions of Brazil and published between 2001 and 2016 were included in the review. The leprosy detection rate ranged from 10.9 to 78.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. Despite affecting both sexes, leprosy was more common in boys and in 10-14-year-olds. Although the authors reported a high cure proportion (82-90%), between 1.7% and 5.5% of the individuals developed a disability resulting from the disease. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE:The findings of this review shows that leprosy situation in Brazilian children under 15 years is extremely adverse in that the leprosy detection rate remains high in the majority of studies. The proportion of cases involving disability is also high and reflects the difficulties and the poor effectiveness of actions aimed at controlling the disease. The authors suggest the development of studies in spatial clusters of leprosy, where beyond the routine actions established, are included news strategies of active search and campaigns and actions of educations inside the clusters of this disease. The new agenda needs to involve the precepts of ethical, humane and supportive care, in order to achieve a new level of leprosy control in Brazil.

Project description:Aceh Province had the highest rate of leprosy in Indonesia; in 2014, 436 new Multibacillary cases were reported. Nagan Raya was the District in Aceh with the highest number of cases; new cases in 2015 comprised 26 with Paucibacillary (PB) and 21 with Multibacillary (MB) with a total of 4.26% with Grade II disability. The phenomena of handling and treatment by the people in Nagan Raya involve treatment by traditional healers, "Tabib", to treat the leprosy, with treatments known as Peundang locally. The purpose of this study was to find out and to take steps to improve the effectiveness of the Tabib in controlling leprosy in Nagan Raya. The main object of this study, which used a quasi-experimental design, was to find out and to improve the treatment of leprosy patients by the Tabib who treat them there. Data was gathered using a questionnaire with an interview and the intervention was to provide training and a pocket book about leprosy and how to detect, control, and manage it there and the role that the Tabib can play in controlling leprosy in the future. The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference in knowledge about leprosy between the EG (Experimental Group) Tabib after they got the training including the pocket book and the Tabib in the Control Group (CG); i.e., that did not get any training nor the pocket book. Furthermore, after the training, there was also a significant difference in the attitude towards leprosy between the EG and the CG of Tabib. There was also a significant difference in the future role of the Tabibs to control the spread of leprosy between the EG and the CG. Based on these results, it is hoped that the District Health Department can implement a partnership model with the Tabib in Nagan Raya (and elsewhere) to use the pocket book with training to implement a program to control the spread of leprosy and also to always support the Tabib to improve their role in controlling and eliminating leprosy amongst the village people.

Dataset Information

The spatial distribution of leprosy cases during 15 years of a leprosy control program in Bangladesh: an observational study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets