Ocular leprosy in institutionalized Nigerian patients

Abstract

SUMMARYObjective: This study was aimed at presenting the profile of ocular lesions observed in the in-mates on multidrug treatment, of a leprosy rehabilitation centre in Nigeria. Design: Cross-sectional. Method: One hundred patients were selected by systematic random sampling. Sixty-nine had ocular involvement and were the subjects of this study. The age range was 15 to 80 years with a mean age of 51 years. There were 57 males (82.6%) and 12 females (17.4%). The range of duration of treatment was two months to 30 years, with a mean of 15 years. Examination of the anterior and posterior segments of the globe and its adnexa was carried out using Penlight, magnifying loupe and direct ophthalmoscope. Visual acuity was recorded using the Snellen charts. Results: Lepromatous leprosy patients had the greatest incidence of ocular lesions. Ocular lesions were more in patients who have had leprosy for ≥ 15 years. Madarosis (72.5%) and lagophthalmos (29.0%) were the commonest lesions. Corneal involvement was seen in 36.2%. Conjunctivitis in 14.5% . Trichiasis in 10.1% and ectropion in 8.7% . 17.4% were legally blind (VA≤3/60) in the better eye, and 17.4% had cataract in at least one eye. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of ocular lesions among males and females, and between patients with Lepromatous and Tuberculoid leprosy. Conclusion: Ocular complications are common and sight threatening in leprosy patients. Regular screening and outreach by eye care providers should be incorporated into leprosy care programmes.

Gender differential on characteristics and outcome of leprosy patients admitted to a long-term care rural hospital in South-Eastern Ethiopia

“…In the current study, the ratio male/female in admitted leprosy patients (1.8) was slightly lower than the observed in a new cases sample diagnosed in our centre previously (2.1) [16]. This fact agrees with previous studies conducted in other African countries [5,6,8,17]. However there are studies with a similar proportion of men/and women [18,19], and others where the ratio is as high as 3:1 [20,21].…”

“…Traditionally, the preponderance of male patients over female ones has been reported [5-8]. In the current study, the ratio male/female in admitted leprosy patients (1.8) was slightly lower than the observed in a new cases sample diagnosed in our centre previously (2.1) [16].…”

“…Moreover, women are less aware of causation and symptoms of leprosy and have less access to health care coverage than men, thus contributing to their delay in seeking for treatment [6-8]. Thus, understanding gender differences in clinical presentation, type of leprosy, and access to health of leprosy patients is important [9].…”

Óbitos por hanseníase como causa básica em residentes no Estado de Mato Grosso, Brasil, no período de 2000 a 2007

“…Estudos de comparação entre as formas clínicas têm mostrado que pacientes virchowianos apresentam maior potencial reacional e, consequentemente, maior grau de incapacidade e Óbitos por hanseníase em Mato Grosso complicações após alta do tratamento. 7,24 Pacientes virchowianos também apresentam menor sobrevida -6,3 anos por paciente -em relação aos demais portadores. 25 A proporção mais elevada de óbitos de casos classiicados como virchowianos é coerente com estudos de mortalidade por hanseníase realizados em São Paulo [14][15][16] e no Brasil.…”

“…6 Porém, indivíduos curados pela poliquimioterapia para hanseníase (PQT) e, portanto, curados segundo o Sinan, podem apresentar condições clínicas que incluem estados reacionais, incapacidades físicas e sequelas decorrentes da doença. 7,8 Tais condições não são registradas na Declaração de Óbito (DO).…”