LEPROSY A CHANGE IN PROFILE?

Leprosy has been ofcially eliminated from India since December, 2005; still there are districts and blocks reporting high prevalence indicating ongoing transmission. Thepresent study aimed at determining the current situation/scenario of leprosy in a tertiary level hospital in Kolkata.It is a cross-sectional observational study carried out on patients diagnosed and registered in the leprosy clinic (May 2018-May 2020).Data regarding clinical features, histopathological diagnosis and treatment, reactions was analyzed. Skin biopsies were taken in all cases and slit skin smear was done. The biopsies and slit skin smear were evaluated for the type of pathology and acid fast bacilli (AFB) status. A total of 58 patients were registered over 8months period, with M: F (4.8:1). 5child cases were reported, 44 (75.86%) were new cases, 14 (24.14%) were defaulter. Slit skin smear showed 37 (63.79%) cases were multibacillary (MB). Lepromatous leprosy (LL) 28 (48.28%) was the most frequent morphologic type followed by borderline tuberculoid (BT) 12 (20.69%) andtuberculoid leprosy 9 (15.52%) borderline lepromatous(BL) 4 (6.89%) cases, 5 (8.62%) case of histoid leprosy. 9 (15.51%) presented with each type 1 and 5 (8.62%) cases with type 2Erythema NodosumLeprosum (ENL) reaction.Our studyoffers insight into the current status of the disease in the area of otherwise low prevalence. It is seen that despite statistical elimination, lepromatus leprosy, leprosy reactions are commonly seen as presenting features. It highlights the need for continuation of targeted leprosy control activities and active case detection.