A study of 922 bacteriologically positive leprosy cases

Nine hundred twenty-two bacteriologically positive leprosy cases were registered over a period of 13 years (1962-1974) at the Acworth Leprosy Hospital in Bombay, and studied for a minimum period of five years. Two hundred eighty-eight were found to take antileprosy medication irregularly. The remaining 634 patients, who took their medication regularly, were analyzed with respect to the effects of age, sex, type of disease, frequency of reactions, and duration of treatment on the attainment of bacteriologic negativity. Overall, 57.4% of those patients taking medication regularly became bacteriologically negative; while only 20.8% of those taking medication irregularly became bacteriologically negative. Age and sex did not appear to influence the attainment of bacteriologic negativity. The type of disease, reactions, and duration of treatment all influenced the time required to attain bacteriologic negativity.