A field study of leprosy in Cordova, Philippines resurvey in 1941 after eight years

ABSTRACT

1- In 1933, a field study of leprosy was made in Corodova, Cebu, during which 99.6 per cent of the enumerated population of 6,063 inhabitants were examined. This includes 62 missed in the first survey but examined during a follow-up in 1935. Including patients already in segregation, the total prevalence in 1933 was found to be 19.0 per 1,000, 64 or 57.7 per cent of the 115 cases being of that type. 2- In 1941 after an eight-year interval, during which the population was kept under observation, a resurvey of the same area was made along lines similar to those followed in the first survey. Of an enumerated population of 7,026.98.9 per cent were examined. For total leprosy the prevalence rate was found to be 17.9 per 1,000, but for lepromatous leprosy it had decreased to 8.0 per 1,000, and lepromatous cases constituted only 44 per cent of the total of 126 cases found. 3- Of 49 patients with active lepromatous lesions in 1933, in segregation at the start of the study or found in the survey, 7 or 14 per cent became bacteriologically negative and were paroled during the eight-year period between the two surveys. Of 15 paroled before 1933, 4, or 27 per cent, lapsed during the same period, and 2 others of the 7 paroled after 1933 are known to have relapsed before 1941. The rate at which paroled lepromatous patients relapsed thus appears to be higher than the rate of parole over the same lenght of time...