Epidemiological study of the recorded leprotic patients over a period of 12 years (2005–2016) in Gharbia Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Background Leprosy is a complicated infectious disease that caused disabilities to different systems. Aim The aim of this work was to study the epidemiological profile of new recorded leprotic patients over a period of 12 years (2005–2016) in Gharbia Governorate. Patients and methods This is a retrospective descriptive cross-sectional recorded-based study in which data were collected of patients who were clinically and histopathologically diagnosed with leprosy between 2005 and 2016 detected at Tanta University Hospital, Dermatology and Venerology outpatient clinic, and Tanta Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital. Also, we compared our results with the past study that detected the number of leprotic patients over a period of 12 years (1994–2005) in Tanta University Hospital, Gharbia, Egypt. Results Our study revealed that the incidence of new leprotic patients was increased in Gharbia Governorate than outside it. Regarding age, sex, and bacteriology, the most common age was between 40 and less than 50, and 50 and less than 60 years, males were more affected, and most cases were positive. In comparison between our study and the old study, the prevalence was significantly higher among males but children were lower affected in our study. Concerning disabilities, feet, hand, and eye were affected respectively mainly in 2005 and then 2006. The common clinical types of leprosy found were multibacillary, paucibacillary, neural, and histoid type, respectively. Conclusion The results of this study showed a decrease in the incidence of new leprotic patients through the study period in comparison with the old study in Egypt.