Leprosy in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to establish age and sex distribution of leprosy, the type, incidence and prevalence of this disease and the outcome of control measures. From January 1983 to December 1986, 185 consecutive new leprosy patients were diagnosed by consultant dermatologists of the Ministry of Health in the Eastern Province. Of the patients, 71 were Saudis and 114 non-Saudis, 88 came from South India, ten from Sri Lanka, seven from Thailand, three from the Philippines. two from Yemen and one each from Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Korea and Indonesia. Among the Saudis men outnumbered women in the ratio of 31, with a mean age 32.2 years and range of 8-80 years. In the non-Saudi patients men outnumbered women in the ratio of 151, with a mean age of 35.6 years and range of 9-57 years. Overall, the disease was more prevalent in the age-group 21-40 years, although other age-groups were also affected. Tuberculoid leprosy was significantly more common in Saudi than in non-Saudi patients [0.01 prevalence of the other types of leprosy was the same for both groups. The incidence of the disease in Saudi patients varied from 1.47 per 100000 in 1983 to 1.03 per 100000 in 1986, and in non-Saudis from 19.6 per 100 00 and 47.7 per 100 000 for the same period. The prevalence rate in Saudi patients was 4.1 per 100 000 in 1 986, and in non-Saudis was 126.5 per 100 000 for the same year. The follow-up of Saudi patients was satisfactory and re-emphasized the public health importance of active case finding and the treatment of patients and contacts. Foreign patients were lost to follow-up when they returned home. These findings suggest that leprosy is rare in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia and imported leprosy constitutes a real public health hazard to the indigenous population. Control of the disease should aim at active case- finding, treatment of cases and contacts and mass health education