School-survey in a rural leprosy endemic area

In the Kaniyambadi Panchayat Union area of known leprosy endemic population this study was undertaken. Out of 10,163 students examined, a total of 137 leprosy cases were detected--122 cases (89.1%) belonged to Tuberculoid type and the rest 15 cases (10.9%) belonged to Borderline leprosy. There were no cases of Lepromatous type, and none of them had any deformity. 86.1% had single lesion and the rest multiple lesions. Study of the distribution of patches over the body surface did not reveal any significant difference between covered and uncovered parts of the body.