5 methods for the detection of new leprosy cases have been implemented in 6 provinces of the central of Vietnam, namely Danang, Khanhhoa, Binhdinh, Lamdong, Ninhthuan and Binhthuan. The results of each method were detailed evaluated and analysed. Contact survey has proved to be effective with the detection rate of 480 per 100.000. While group survey had no good result with the detection rate of 11.94 per 100.000. The method of mass survey was expensive, not so effective (12.07 per 100.000). It should be applied in areas where the prevalence of the disease is high. Notification of patients through general health system was relatively fruitful (152.20 per 100.000). Passive method of detection through health education was very easy to conduct and economic. This method must be carried out in every where
Leprosy ; Leprostatic Agents

In order to evaluate how multitherapy affects on epidemiological picture of leprosy in Kh¸nh Hßa province, the authors have researched disease documents of 1.813 leprotic patients at Kh¸nh Hßa Provincial Dermatological Hospital from 1985 - 1999. They also carried out a sociological investigation from 2.847 normal people and 724 patients. Smear skins of 117 leprosy patients were collected randomly to find out ADN of Mycobacterium leprae by Polymerasa Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. Results showed: Using multitherapy with the combination of three drugs (Rifampicine, Clofazimine and Dapsone) have cut down leprosy incidence, detected new patients rate, under 15 year-old patients rate among new one yearly. It has increased the average age of detected new patients. It has also increased the rate of new patient register themselves in the past fifteen years. However, 5% PCRs of MB patients who stopped using multitherapy 5 years ago are still positive. This fact makes us to pay more attention on relapse of the disease, especially to whom with BI above 4+
Leprosy ; Leprostatic Agents ; epidemiology

BACKGROUND: Several trials on relapse rates on duration of multibacillary regimens have varying results. OBJECTIVE: To compare the relapse rate among smear-positive Leprosy patients receiving 12 blister packs of multibacillary drug therapy and 24 blister packs of multibacillary drug therapy. METHOD: A review of records of smear positive Leprosy patients seen from 2002 to 2006 was done. Demographic, clinical and therapeutic data were collected. Bacteriologic index was determined from Leprosy Laboratory records. RESULT: A total of 391 patients were found to have complete records for review and analysis. Relapse rate was 11.9%(28) for patients who received 12 blister packs and 1.91%(3) for patients who received 24 blister packs and the difference was found to be statistically significant (p<0.01). Distribution of relapse was statistically significant according to age (p<0.01), bacteriologic index (p<0.01) and clinical spectrum (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Relapse rates shown among smear positive leprosy patients receiving 12 blister packs vs. those receiving 24 blister packs was statistically higher which differs from previously published studies. Significant predictors were clinical spectrum, bacteriologic index of >3.5, and >4 and number of blister packs.
Leprostatic Agents ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Leprosy ; Recurrence ; Chronic Disease

BACKGROUND: The novel COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 19) predisposes the general population to a high risk of infection. The 106 million population of the Philippines would be considered an at-risk group due to the high density of the populace in cities. As the situation in each country differs during this era of the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper aims to give practical recommendations for safe procedural dermatology practice in the Philippine setting after the lifting of the government-mandated quarantine. METHODS: An online survey was conducted among Philippine Dermatological Society members. The survey was sent electronically on March 22, 2020. RESULTS: A total of 466 or 42% of the PDS’s 1100 current members replied to the survey. The top 10 procedures performed among the respondents are: 1. Electrocautery (N=437, 94.38%), 2. Chemical peeling (N=422, 91.13%), 3. Laser & energy based device treatment (N= 341, 73.65%), 4. Botulinum toxin injection (N=323, 69.76%), 5. Excision (N=263, 56.80%), 6. Acne surgery (N=176, 38.01%), 7. Injectable Filler (N=171, 36.93%), 8. Cryotherapy (N=145, 31.32%), 9. Platelet rich plasma injection (N=111, 23.97%) and 10. Scar revision (N=85, 18.36%). The majority of the respondents have access to personal protective equipment (PPE) such as surgical masks (N=457, 98.7%), face shields (57.67%), goggles (46.00%), protective gown (42.76%) and bonnets (32.83%). Before the government quarantine, the majority (N=375, 81.17%) of respondents see patients on a firstcome, first-serve system. Only 18.83% (N=87) see patients only by appointment. Regarding teledermatology, most respondents answered that they would advise patients to do digital consultation with only a minority responding they would not consider doing teledermatology. CONCLUSIONS: In the Philippine setting, the best ways to prevent COVID infection inthe procedural dermatology setting include: 1. Education of staff and patients on proper exposure prevention and sanitation measures. 2. Ensuring the correct usage of PPE. 3. Ensuring physical distancing and reducing patient wait times by scheduling visits on an appointment basis. 4. Sufficient protocols must be made for sanitation before and after each patient visit. 5. Teledermatology in pre-procedure consults and post-procedure follow-ups would reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission for both patient and physician.
Leprostatic Agents ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Leprosy ; Recurrence ; Chronic Disease

OBJECTIVETo analyze the trends of case detection and other indicators of leprosy in China during 1985-2002.

METHODSData reported by each province were collected by China National Leprosy Database in Nanjing P.R. China. All data about registered cases were put into computer for analysis.

RESULTSFrom 1985 to 2002, a total of 49,477 new leprosy cases had been detected. Among them, 69.5% were multibacillary cases and 25.4% had grade 2 disability. The child cases aged below 15 years accounted for 3.74% of total cases. Totally, 5824 cases and 303 cases relapsed after dapsone (DDS) mono-therapy and multidrug therapy (MDT), respectively. Case detection showed a marked reduction from 0.47/100,000 in 1985 to 0.18/100,000 in 1993 although there were several spurts due to operational factors. From 1994, case detection showed no significant decline. The grade 2 disability among new patients decreased from 31.4% in 1985 to 23.4% in 2002. The child case detection rate among new cases fluctuated between 2.70%-3.56% from 1999 to 2002. The incidence of relapse declined after the introduction of DDS mono-therapy. However, it increased after the introduction of MDT.

CONCLUSIONChina experiences in leprosy control show that it will take a long time with continuing present leprosy control activities to bring down the case detection and other indicators to a very low level even after reaching the elimination goal of leprosy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Communicable Disease Control ; trends ; Dapsone ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Disability Evaluation ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leprostatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Leprosy ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Recurrence

Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Arthritis ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; Clofazimine ; administration & dosage ; Dapsone ; administration & dosage ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Leprostatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Leprosy ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prednisolone ; administration & dosage ; Rifampin ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome