Using leprosy elimination campaign on leprosy case finding: Case series study in Kurdistan, Iran
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22122/cdj.v3i2.134Keywords:
Leprosy, Case Series, IranAbstract
BACKGROUND: Because of the long incubation period of leprosy and disability caused by it, even mother to fetus transmission has been reported. Thus, this disease causes much alarm. Kurdistan Province, which is located in the Western part of Iran, is one of the regions that have previously suffered from endemic leprosy. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of the leprosy elimination campaign (LEC) on leprosy case finding in Baneh, Iran, in 2012.
METHODS: This case series study was conducted in Baneh District. Case finding was performed via LEC method, which is a recommended method for leprosy case finding in endemic areas. The performed steps included public education, and screening families of ex-patients through careful examination, identification of suspected cases, and diagnosis based on specialist’s examination.
RESULTS: The families of ex-patients were assessed and 76 people who had prolonged exposure to ex-patients were invited to be examined by a trained general physician. Subsequently, 50 people were referred to a dermatologist for further examinations, 5 of whom and 1 unexposed person underwent bacteriological test for further evaluation. The results of all the tests were negative.
CONCLUSION: Active leprosy case finding and use of LEC method require a great deal of money and efforts to identify a small number of patients. Because a district like Baneh is in the process of eliminating leprosy and since the economic and social situation has changed greatly over the past two decades, LEC method is no longer cost effective.
References
World Health Organization. Leprosy [Online]. [cited 2015]; Available from: URL:
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs101/en
Dhillon GP, Barkakaty BN. National leprosy eradication programme in India: achievements and deficiencies. Health Administrator 2009; 18(2): 4-7.
World Health Organization. Leprosy elimination, World Health Assembly (WHA) resolution to eliminate leprosy [Online]. [cited 1991]; Available from: URL:
http://www.who.int/lep/strategy/wha/en
Durrheim DN, Fourie A, Balt E, Le RM, Harris BN, Matebula M, et al. Leprosy in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa-eliminated or hidden? Lepr Rev 2002; 73(4): 326-33.
Rad F, Ghaderi E, Moradi G, Salimzadeh H. The study of disability status of live leprosy patients in Kurdistan province of Iran. Pak J Med Sci 2007; 23(6): 857.
World Health Organization. Elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in India. New Delhi, India: New Concept Information Systems Pvt. Ltd; 2015.
Hatami H, Nasehi M, Dowlati Y. Jozam (Leprosy). In: Azizi F, Janghorbani M, Hatami H, Editors. Epidemiology and Control of Common Diseases in Iran. Tehran, Iran: Eshtiagh Publications; 2010. p. 768-77.
Review of leprosy trend. Tehran, Iran: Ministry of health and medical education, 2012.
Azizi MH, Bahadori M. A history of leprosy in Iran during the 19th and 20th centuries. Arch Iran Med 2011; 14(6): 425-30.
Tahriri Sh. The prevalence of Leprosy in Kermanshah province in 1981-98. J Babol Univ Med Sci ed. 2000.
Sadre Ashkevari Sh. Bacillary Leprosy in Guilan: A three-year study. J Med Counc I R Iran 1997; 14(3-4): 136-43.
Deputy Healthy. Situation report of leprosy disease, health deputy of medical science university of Kurdistan, 2013. [Unpublished].
Dharmshaktu NS, Barkakaty BN, Patnaik PK, Arif MA. Progress towards elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in India and role of modified leprosy elimination campaign. Lepr Rev 1999; 70(4): 430-9.
Sekar B, Kothandapani G, Prabhakar RT, Krishnamurthy P. Evaluation of the modified leprosy elimination campaign in a high leprosy endemic district of Jharkhand. Indian J Lepr 2003; 75(3): 233-42.
Davoodian P, Dadvand H, Raz-Nahan M, Baghestani Sh, Mahbubi A, Bageri A. Case finding survey for leprosy in Iran: BandarAbbas and Minab. Lepr Rev 2009; 80: 441-4.
Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Report of leprosy elimination campaign. [Online]. [cited 2013];
Available from: URL:
http://tb-lep.behdasht.gov.ir/Leprosy_Situation_In_Iran_World.aspx
Qasemi-Barqi R, Bijani B, Pahlevan AA. Leprosy elimination campaign in Qazvin province, Islamic Republic of Iran (2006-07). East Mediterr Health J 2011; 17(12): 920-4.
Croft R. Leprosy elimination--sprint or marathon? Lepr Rev 1999; 70(4): 428-9.
Ebenso BE, Tureta SM, Udo SO. Treatment outcome and impact of leprosy elimination campaign in Sokoto and Zamfara states, Nigeria. Lepr Rev 2001; 72(2): 192-8.
Jianping S, Wenzhong L, Meiwen Y, Jun Y, Langchao Z, Rongmao W. et al. Analysis on the detection of new leprosy cases before, during and after the year of leprosy elimination campaigns, Lepr Rev 2004; 75; 157-63
Sofola O. Leprosy elimination campaigns: the Nigerian experience. Lepr Rev 1999; 70(4): 465-71.
WHO. World Health Organization Leprosy Elimination Project. Status Report 2003 [Online]. [cited 2003 Mar 20]; Available from: URL:
