Impact of MDT on leprosy with a special reference to monolesions and smear positivity among the new cases.

The impact of MDT on the prevalence and incidence rate of leprosy was studied in a project area of 130,000 population over a period of 14 years, with a special reference to new monolesional cases and those presenting as smear positive cases. The prevalence rate showed a fall from 23 per 10,000 in 1986-87 to 1.33 per 10,000 in 1999-2000. The number of cases presenting with single lesion however showed a downward trend from 63.69% in 1986-87 to 26.09% in 1999-2000. The cases showing smear positivity among the new cases detected showed an ascent from 3.91% in 1986-87 to 4.35% in 1999-2000 with a peak of 25% in 1995-96. A similar trend was seen in the analysed figures of the 4 general surveys done.