Retrospective Study of Leprosy in Togo (2000-2014): about 2,630 cases

Bulletin de la Société de pathologie exotique
J N TeclessouP Pitche

Abstract

The aim of this retrospective study carried out from January 2000 to December 2014 was to determine and map the epidemiological evolutionary trends and the clinical forms of leprosy cases notified in Togo. All the 2,630 new leprosy cases notified by all districts to the National Leprosy/Buruli Ulcer Control Program (PNLLUB-Togo) were included. The mean annual incidence was 175 cases with extremes of 73 to 266 cases. The median age of patients was 40 years, and the sex-ratio was 1.13. Children aged 0 to 15 accounted for 5.5% of the cases. The plateau region in the center of the country had the highest annual incidence (around 800 cases). Multibacillary forms accounted for 74.2% of cases. All patients were treated with multidrug therapy (MDT). WHO grade 2 disease was found in 15% of patients and 9.5% were lost to follow-up. Our results confirm that leprosy is no longer a major public health problem in Togo. However, the high incidence of leprosy in some areas of the country, could permit a resurgence of the disease.

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