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[Leprosy situation in the southeastern region of Madagascar from 1996 to 1998]
F C Razafimalala1, S Rakotomanga, D B Rakotondramarina
1Service des Maladies Infectieuses, Hôpital Général de Befelatanana, Service d'Epidémiologie, Direction de la lutte contre les maladies transmissibles, Antananarivo, Madagascar.
Abstract:
Leprosy is endemic in Madagascar. The authors report the results of an epidemiologic study performed between 1996 and 1998 in Farafanguna, localized in the South-Eastern of the country. During this period, 217 new cases have been diagnosed. Of the 130 cases included in the study, 69.23% were children aged lower than 15 years and 76.91% suffered from a multibacillary form. More than 50% of the cases belonged to a large family (6 persons or more) and at least one family case was found in more than 60% of cases. These results enhance the severity of the disease in the country and show the presence of multiple risk factors (promiscuity, family cases and multibacillary forms).