Impact of MDT on incidence rates of leprosy among household contacts. Part 1. Baseline data |
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Authors: | P S Sundar Rao K Jesudasan K Mani M Christian |
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Institution: | Department of Biostatistics, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India. |
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Abstract: | This preliminary study from Gudiyatham Taluk, the leprosy control area of the Schieffelin Leprosy Research & Training Centre, investigated the incidence rates of leprosy among household contacts during the period 1970-1985. The incidence rates of leprosy among the household contacts prior to and during the initiation of multi-drug therapy are presented here. The overall incidence rate among the household contacts was 4 per 1000 person-years at risk. Contacts of multibacillary and paucibacillary cases had a relative risk of 3-6 times and 2-4 times the risk of leprosy in the general population, respectively. The incidence rates among children were higher than adults; the peak age-specific incidence rate was between 5-9 years, and nearly one third of the primary cases were children. These findings are presented and the methodological issues discussed. |
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