Observations on the intra familial clustering of leprosy cases in Trivandrum City

A survey in the Southern wards of Trivandrum City showed that 552 houses are harbouring 699 leprosy patients. 84.2% of the houses are having single cases and 15.8% with two or more cases. As the size of the household increases the average number of cases per house increases (r = 0.273 P less than .01) In some houses there are more leprosy patients than healthy persons showing significant clustering. Out of the total cases 9.87% are lepromatous 5.58% borderline and 84.55% neural type. The prevalence rate was lowest in less than 10 year age group and highest in 21-40 age group. The overall prevalence rate is almost equal in males and females.