Leprosy
Conditions
Interventions
At intake: BCG vaccination will be given to all contacts of leprosy patients included in the study.
During a follow-up visit two months later: participants will be checked for symptoms and signs of le
Sponsors
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam
Department of Public Health
- The Leprosy Mission International Bangladesh
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: Around 1,300 consecutive leprosy patients will be enrolled. The diagnosis of leprosy is generally carried out according to the RHP guidelines, which follow those of the national leprosy control program. A medical officer confirms all leprosy cases included in the study, and this confirmation is written on the patient card. For the 1,300 consecutive new leprosy patients, contact groups will be formed consisting of around 15 persons for each patient. Thus the total number of contacts who will be considered for inclusion will be around 20,000. The following categories of contacts have been distinguished: 1. Those living in the same house (household members); 2. Those living in a house on the same compound, sharing the same kitchen; 3. Direct neighbors (first neighbors).
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: Exclusion criteria for patients are as follows: 1. Any patient who refuses examination of contacts; 2. Any patient who suffers from the pure neural form of leprosy; 3. Any patient who resides only temporarily in the study area; 4. Any new patient found during contact examination of the index case; 5. Any new patient living less than six houses (or less than 100 m) away from a patient already included in the study; 6. First and second degree relatives of a patient already included in the study. Exclusion criteria for contacts are as follows: 1. Any person who refuses informed consent; 2. Any woman indicating that she is pregnant; 3. Any person who had leprosy in the past or is currently on leprosy treatment; 4. Any person who had TB in the past or is currently on TB treatment; 5. Any person below 5 years of age; 6. Any person known to suffer from liver disease or jaundice; 7. Any person known to suffer from impaired immunity for example due to HIV, malignancies or the use of steroids; 8. Any person residing temporarily in the area; 9. Any person suffering from leprosy at the initial survey (these patients will be referred to the clinic for leprosy treatment); 10. Any person who is a contact of another patient and is already enrolled in the contact group of the other patient.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| New cases of leprosy among the contacts of index cases. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactJ.H. Richardus
Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam, Department of Public Health, P.O. Box 1738
Outcome results
None listed