Field follow-up of leprosy cases in an urban area.

To achieve effective case holding in SET programme "treatment reminder" through home visits by field personnel is of much importance as drug compliance of leprosy cases is known to be very poor in general. A field study was undertaken to followup (A) school detected 158 leprosy cases (B) patients residing within project area especially 350 infectious cases as well as those 329 patients taking treatment elsewhere (C) 28 infectious patients from outside control area. (A) 70% Children diagnosed as leprosy through earlier surveys were available. 14% were believed to be regular for treatment 78% patients did not go for treatment. From this untreated group 73% showed features ranging from marked improvement to total regression of lesions. (B) 22% smear positive leprosy cases registered for treatment who dropped out from treatment over a period of 5 years were followed up. 21% dropped out cases had left the control area and their whereabouts were not known. From a group of 329 patients living in the control area of the same project who were believed to be taking treatment elsewhere only 48% could be contacted. The rest of them could not be contacted for various reasons. (C) During home visits to 28 infectious leprosy cases coming from far away places 21% said that they were taking treatment elsewhere. The figures in this study indicate the need for planning priority oriented home visit programme according to local situations to maintain at least infectious cases under regular treatment in view of the multiplicity of drugs as per the recent recommendations from experts.