Leprosy in resettlement colonies of Delhi

Population influx into urban areas like Delhi has encouraged mushrooming of numerous slums where about 30% population of the city is living. A survey was conducted in four resettlement colonies of Delhi. Of the 6,876 persons examined, 43 (6.25 per 1000) subjects were found to have clinical and histologic evidence of leprosy. Fifteen (35%) patients of neuritic leprosy, eight (19%) with tuberculoid leprosy, 12 (38%) of borderline tuberculoid, three (4%) each with borderline and borderline lepromatous and one (2%) each of lepromatous and indeterminate leprosy were diagnosed. The study revealed that 21% of the patients were less than 20 years of age.