Spectrum of leprosy among suspected cases attending a teaching hospital in Western Rajasthan, India

BACKGROUND: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infectious disease, which mainly involves skin, peripheral nerves, mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, and eyes. According to National Leprosy Eradication Programme 2017–18 annual report, the annual new case detection rate from Rajasthan is 1.27 per 1 lakh population and prevalence rate is 0.14. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to determine the spectrum of Mycobacterium leprae infections among suspected cases attending a teaching hospital in western Rajasthan, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study conducted in the Department of Microbiology, in a teaching hospital, western Rajasthan, between the period of January 2017 and April 2019. The records of modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining during the study period were analyzed. The demographic data like age and sex along with clinical diagnosis were also recorded from laboratory register and hospital information system. RESULTS: Out of total 91 suspected cases, 30.77% was microbiologically confirmed cases of leprosy. Out of total positive cases, 71.43% were male and 28.57% were female. A maximum number of positive (50%) were found in the age group of 31–50 years. CONCLUSION: Present study gives an insight about the spectrum of leprosy in the region. The large number of positive cases signifies that leprosy awareness and programs aimed at elimination need to be more vigorously implemented. To achieve complete eradication from this menace, newer strategies like effective vaccine development and drug-resistance testing should be implemented.