A big challenge in case finding at low endemic situation: analysis on 1462 new leprosy patients detected in China in 2007.

OBJECTIVE To understand the characteristics of newly detected leprosy patients at low endemic situation in China in order to provide information for better leprosy control. METHODS A study was carried out using a designed questionnaire in a retrospective method in China in 2007. RESULTS Among 1462 new patients studied, the average age at diagnosis was 41.5 +/- 15.8 years. Nearly half of new patients were detected by a passive method at the skin clinic. This might relate to a long delay between disease onset and diagnosis (3.23 +/- 45 years) as well as a high rate of disability Grade 2 among new patients (22.6%). There were 363 (24.8%) patients who came from non-leprosy endemic areas, 844 (57.7%) patients who came from non-leprosy families and 409 (28.0%) patients who came from villages where leprosy outbreaks had never occurred before. CONCLUSION Case finding within low endemic areas of China is a big challenge in leprosy control. Maintaining sustainable leprosy control and strengthening leprosy training among dermatologists may be the important strategy in the future.