Delays in Diagnosing Reactions

 

Leprosy Mailing List – April 10,  2013 

Ref.:    (LML) Delays in Diagnosing Reactions

From:  Diana Lockwood, London, UK

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Dear Pieter,

Would LML like to highlight this paper that we have just published? The work was done in Nepal by one of my LSHTM MSc students (Sonia Raffe TMIH 2010)  at Anandaban Leprosy Hospital, Nepal. We have just published it in PloS NTD and I think people might be interested in it (see attached file).

Key messages
●       Reactions still an important presenting feature for new leprosy patients (55%).
●       Delays were due to non-recognition and patients attending other services.
●       Relatives, friends and leprosy patients were important in referring patients to specialist services.
●       Patients received steroids significantly faster when they were seen at specialist services.

This study highlights the ongoing importance of reactions and the need for education of patients and a wide range of medical services (private doctors, traditional healers etc). It also supports the need for leprosy specialist services.

Best wishes,

 

 

Dr. Diana Lockwood

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

 

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