Leprosy survey in night high schools in greater Bombay

A survey of 6096 students attending night high schools in Bombay, gave the prevalence rate of leprosy 9.3 per 1000 in this group. 10.5% of the cases identified were having more serious forms of leprosy characterised by nerve involvement or skin smear positivity. Night school screening has limited value as it can only be conducted in big industrial cities and such surveys cover only a very small proportion of the population. However, in view of the current tendency of population shift from rural to urban areas and since such survey can identify a number of established cases it can be included among the other routine leprosy case detection activities in big cities, where night schools exist.