Prevention of impairment in leprosy; results from a collaborative project in China.

OBJECTIVE

to evaluate programs of prevention and treatment of impairments due to leprosy in 8 geographical areas in the People's Republic of China.

DESIGN

follow up of cohorts of leprosy patients receiving a range of different interventions.

SETTING

8 different geographical areas in China, varying in urban and rural characteristics from 6 provinces and 2 municipalities.

SUBJECTS

leprosy patients who were receiving or had completed a course of antileprosy chemotherapy.

INTERVENTIONS

a range of interventions, including steroids, self-care training, adapted footwear, surgery and provision of prostheses.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

changes in eye, hand and foot impairments between baseline assessment and assessment at 2 years.

RESULTS

232 out of 3571 patients assessed monthly over 2 years developed acute neuritis and, in most areas, were promptly and adequately treated. Regular self care of eyes was established in 238 out of 313 patients with lagophthalmos and was associated with reduction in the prevalence of conjunctivitis. Regular self care of hands was established in 730 out of 1010 patients with neurological impairment of the hand; this was associated with a reduction (80%) in hand cracks and wounds. Regular self care of feet was established in 745 out of 1094 patients with neurological impairment of the feet; this was associated with a 83% reduction in patients with cracks and a 33% reduction in patients with sole wounds. A footwear program was established in all 8 areas providing footwear to 4698 patients over the 2-year period; this was associated with a reduction of 61% and 21% in patients with cracks and wounds, respectively. Management of complicated sole wounds in 256 patients resulted in 69% of these patients being free of sole wounds at 2 years. Targets for reconstructive surgery and amputations were not fully attained, but lower limb prostheses were provided for 306 patients.

CONCLUSIONS

leprosy is a chronic disease characterized by peripheral neuropathies which can result in increasing secondary impairments and disabilities. The emphasis, in countries such as China where the chemotherapy programs have been effectively implemented, is shifting to prevention and treatment of impairments. This innovative program in China has successfully demonstrated that it is possible to prevent and reverse impairments due to leprosy.