RESUMO
Leprosy reactions are a major cause of leprosy deformities and disabilities. The risk factors that trigger off these reactions are ill understood and only associations with stressing conditions have been drawn. Type 1 reactions are known to occur in leprosy patients both before and after onset of chemotherapy. A total of 264 leprosy record cards belonging to patients treated at Alupe Leprosy and Skin Diseases Research Centre between March 1985 and February 1991 were reviewed to determine the differences between those who developed Type 1 reaction and those who did not. Disease classification; age; sex; treatment regimen and time of onset of the reactions were some of the variables examined. 39 of multibacillary leprosy cases compared to 61 of paucibacillary cased had Type 1 reactions. 49 of reactions in the two classes occurred during chemotherapy. Significant differences between sex; age and type of leprosy were found among those who had Type 1 reaction and those who did not
