| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2014 | Volume
: 34
| Issue : 1 | Page : 70-73 |
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Epidemiological study of leprosy in Egypt: 2005-2009
Ahmed Amer1, Ali Mansour2
1 Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
2 Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
Correspondence Address:
Ali Mansour
MD, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, 34517 Cairo
Egypt
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1110-6530.137316
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Background
Leprosy is considered a major public health problem because of its capacity to cause permanent disabilities, with the social consequences of discrimination and stigma. In 1991, the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution to eliminate leprosy by the year 2000. Egypt has achieved the WHO goal as early as 1994; however, there are still focal points, especially in Upper Egypt, which have failed to achieve the WHO goal and are reporting higher figures than the national one.
Objective
The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological trend of leprosy in Egypt from 2005 to 2009.
Materials and methods
This is a descriptive study of the National Leprosy Control program registry in Egypt from 2005 until the end of 2009. An analysis of the cases on the basis of the prevalence rate of leprosy, new case detection rates, active case detection among contacts, type of leprosy, and grade of disability was carried out.
Results
The prevalence rate in the study period is less than one case per 10 000 populations at the national level; however, there were certain foci showing prevalence rate more than one case per 10 000 populations. The disease affected men more than women. Male patients (93.14%) are more common than female patients (6.86%). Multibacillary cases were more common than paucibacillary cases. Grade 2 disability showed an increase from 2005 till 2008 and a decrease in 2009.
Conclusion
Although Egypt has achieved the WHO goal of leprosy elimination since 1994, yet, the presence of certain foci with prevalence rate more than one case per 10 000 populations reflects the need for more efforts for early case detection. |
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