[Current status of leprosy in West Germany]

Data on the prevalence of leprosy in the Federal Republic of Germany obtained by questionnaire from numerous departments of dermatology were compared to those from the German Federal Health Office to which leprosy cases have to be reported. Between 1962 and 1980, the Federal Health Office cases numbered 86, whereas 106 were reported to us by questionnaire. Of the latter, 85 patients were male, 21 female. A sharp increase in cases was seen in the late 1970s, mainly due to the growing number of refugees from Southeast Asia and to foreign workers and their family members from southern Europe. Patients from Africa and Latin America were only infrequently observed. A total of 16 patients were Germans. The lepromatous type of leprosy predominated, followed by the tuberculoid type, and the borderline cases are the least frequent. Although no secondary cases have been reported so far with certainty in this country and the risk of transmission seems small in a highly developed country such as the Federal Republic of Germany, a certain amount of awareness should be maintained in view of the important role early diagnosis plays in the fate of the patient.