A study of contacts among leprosy patients.

The present study is a longitudinal study in which 96 families were surveyed and 566 population residing in leprosy patients families were examined and 20 new secondary cases were identified, giving rise the gross prevalence rate 3.45%. Males were mostly affected and younger population was the main victim of disease. Cases were present in the low socio-economic group of population and disease were mainly confined among illiterates and low educated population. The incidence of secondary cases was highest, those who were residing in extended type of family system.