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World Leprosy Day

World Leprosy Day

28 January 2024

World Leprosy Day takes place on the last Sunday of January each year. It is organised by organisations of people affected by leprosy and leprosy-focused NGOs, including The Leprosy Mission, and is an opportunity to lift up the voices of people affected by leprosy throughout the world. The Leprosy Mission

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Cochrane Library

Articles

Diagnosis

General

Leprosy in Australia

Stigma

Reports

Journals

E-books

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Articles

Diagnosis

Artificial Intelligence on diagnostic aid of Leprosy: A systematic literature review
Leprosy is a neglected tropical disease that can cause physical injury and mental disability. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, but can be inconclusive due to the absence of initial symptoms and similarity to other dermatological diseases. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been used in dermatology, assisting clinical procedures and diagnostics. In particular, AI-supported solutions have been proposed in the literature to aid in the diagnosis of leprosy, and this Systematic Literature Review (SLR) aims to characterize the state of the art. Journal of clinical medicine 28 December 2023

Genome-wide meta-analysis and fine-mapping prioritize potential causal variants and genes related to leprosy
Collectively, this study identified candidate causal variants and elucidated the potential regulatory and coding mechanisms for genes associated with leprosy. MedComm 24 November 2023

Immunopathogenesis of Type 1 and Type 2 Leprosy Reaction: An Update Review
The study of immunopathogenesis of leprosy reactions has emerged as a significant area of research due to its potential to identify critical targets for the early detection and management of these episodes. This study aims to reveal the pathogenesis of type 1 and 2 leprosy reactions so that they can form the basis for their treatment. Cureus 21 November 2023

Moth-eaten appearance of the iris in Hansen Disease
Iris atrophy has been reported to be the most common ocular lesion in chronic multibacillary leprosy (25% of patients), persisting despite adequate treatment (3% of patients). JAMA 17 November 2023

Tropical infectious diseases and the skin: Diagnostic and treatment updates since the WHO's integrated campaign against neglected tropical skin diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a unified effort to address skin-related neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in 2017. This effort increased attention and resources allocated toward decreasing the burden of tropical skin diseases. It emphasized an “integrated approach” to detect and treat multiple co-existing NTDs at once. This article will outline new diagnostic tests, treatment options, and vaccine development for neglected tropical skin diseases since the initiative began. Dermatological reviews 31 October 2023

A cost-effectiveness analysis of a novel algorithm to sequentially diagnose leprosy based on manufactured tests under the SUS perspective
This study aimed to analyze the cost-effectiveness of a new diagnostic algorithm recommended by the Brazilian government to diagnose leprosy in household contacts of confirmed leprosy cases, which includes the RT and RT-PCR tests. Cadernos de Saúde Pública 4 January 2024

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General

Health Technologies for preventing physical disabilities caused by leprosy
It was identified that in the context of preventing physical disabilities caused by leprosy, assistive technology (assessment of physical disabilities, wound care, and immobilization, among others); educational technology (such as guidance on hygiene and proper medication use); and managerial technology (clinical meetings, for example) play crucial roles. Revista Prevenção de Infecção e Saúde 26 October 2023

Prevalence of plantar ulcer and its risk factors in leprosy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The prevalence of plantar ulceration in leprosy is as high as 34% among those with loss of sensation in the feet. However, the incidence and recurrence rates of ulceration are least reported. The inability to feel 10 g of monofilament appears to be a strong predictor of those at risk of developing ulcers. However, there is a paucity of evidence on identifying those at risk of developing plantar ulcers in leprosy. Prospective studies are needed to estimate the incidence of ulcers. Identifying individuals at risk of ulcers will help design targeted interventions to minimize risk factors, prevent ulcers and promote ulcer healing. Journal of foot and ankle research 13 November 2023

Evaluation of skin temperature in the hands of leprosy patients to detect peripheral autonomic dysfunction, by infrared thermography
This study presented a potential benefit in using IR thermography to evaluate asymmetry of skin temperature in the hands of leprosy patients, thus detecting peripheral autonomic dysfunction. Leprosy review 1 December 2023

Rising percentage of new female leprosy cases since 2004
Sex-disaggregated data reporting at the national and international level needs to remain a priority. Further research is needed to understand why the percentage of new female cases detected amongst all new cases is increasing and the role biological factors play in leprosy transmission. Leprosy review 1 December 2022

The relationship between body mass index and Leprosy type
This study's leprosy subjects were more likely to be male, with 20 male subjects and 10 female subjects. 11 patients of the study group's participants were beyond the age of 47. The correlation between the BMI value and the type of leprosy has a positive direction of 0.123 with very low relationship criteria and there’s no relationship between body mass index and leprosy type. Therefore the conclusion is there is no association between body mass index and leprosy type.  Journal of Pakistan Association of Dermatologists 12 January 2024

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Leprosy in Australia

Neglected tropical diseases in Australia: a narrative review

  • Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a threat to the health, wellbeing and economic prosperity of billions of people worldwide, often causing serious disease or death.
  • Commonly considered diseases of low and middle‐income nations, the presence of NTDs in high income countries such as Australia is often overlooked.
  • Seven of the 20 recognised NTDs are endemic in Australia: scabies, soil‐transmitted helminths and strongyloidiasis, echinococcosis, Buruli ulcer, leprosy, trachoma, and snakebite envenoming.

MJA 6 June 2022

Medical history: Leprosy is a terror of the past. Right?
Not so. Leprosy, one of history’s most dreaded diseases, is still with us. Western Australia has had 20 new cases of leprosy in the past five years. The disease disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. So what is leprosy? And why isn’t it a thing of the past? RACGP 17 September 2018

Leprosy in Far North Queensland: almost gone, but not to be forgotten
The low numbers of cases of locally acquired leprosy in FNQ reflect improved access to treatment and less household overcrowding, factors that reduce M. leprae transmission. However, while there has been no case of locally acquired leprosy since 2009, two PNG‐born Torres Strait Islanders were diagnosed with the disease in the past decade. The continuous flow of people between Australia and PNG makes ongoing vigilance essential. MJA 5 August 2019

Stigma, separation, sorrow: leprosy in Australia
Leprosy (Hansen’s disease) was introduced to Australia in the mid-1800s and its story reflects the attitudes of the 19th and 20th centuries, with treatment including segregation, paternalism, and racism. The approaches taken within the Australian states were similar and based on isolating people affected by leprosy, as both a measure to assist the patient but, more importantly, to protect the European society. The most devastating effects of this introduced disease and these approaches were on Indigenous Australians. With the advent of effective antimicrobials, isolation practices were slowly replaced with community-based treatment. However, the term ‘leper’ still evokes negative images in Australian society today. Microbiology Australia 22 October 2020

A polymorphic rash from across the seas
A 21-year-old man who migrated to Australia from Nepal 4 years previously was referred to a dermatologist. He had a 12-month history of a polymorphic eruption consisting of widespread macules, plaques, papules, and nodules. As these were asymptomatic, he had not previously sought medical attention. A left wrist biopsy showed a granulomatous response with perineural histiocytic infiltrates, consistent with paucibacillary leprosy. In 2020, the World Health Organization reported 127 558 new cases of leprosy worldwide.1 In Australia, leprosy is a notifiable disease, with 9 cases reported in the past year, and an average of 9.6 notifications annually over the past 5 years. MJA 22 August 2022

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Stigma

Steps towards eliminating Hansen's disease stigma
Persons affected by Hansen's disease (PAHD) can develop long-term physical disabilities and psychological problems if the disease is not managed promptly and correctly. The complex and multi-faceted nature of stigma related to Hansen's Disease, and the discrimination arising from it, demands multiple parallel steps to improve the health, well-being and lived experience of People Affected by Hansen's Disease, including: 1) adoption and pursuance of a human rights based approach; 2) revocation of discriminatory laws; 3) education and training for healthcare workers; 4) new techniques and therapies to diagnose and treat HD without side-effects and to reduce risk of disabilities; 5) elimination of stigmatising terminology. International health 20 December 2023

Impact of basic psychological support on stigma and the mental well-being of people with disabilities due to leprosy and lymphatic filariasis: a postintervention evaluation study
A peer support intervention, called basic psychological support for people affected by neglected tropical diseases (BPS-N), was piloted in India to improve mental well-being and social participation and to reduce stigma among people with disabilities due to leprosy or lymphatic filariasis. This study aimed to further evaluate this intervention at approximately 2 mo after its completion. International health 20 December 2023

Grade of disability and perceived stigma of Leprosy patients : is there any relationship?
Leprosy can remain with residual disabilities and advance slowly. One of the main causes of stigma was the visible disabilities caused by leprosy. Stigma and disability are still problems for handling leprosy. Correlation of disability and stigma in leprosy is well known, but the correlation between the grading of disability towards stigma is still debatable and lack of study. This study aims to determine the relationship between the grade of disability according to WHO (World Health Organization) and the perceived stigma of leprosy patients. Journal of Pakistan association of dermatologists 10 December 2023

Prevalence, characteristics and socio-demographic correlates of self-stigma among Leprosy affected persons : A case study
This study has determined the prevalence of self-stigma, its characteristics in terms of alienation, stereotype endorsement, perceived discrimination and social withdrawal and stigma resistance among leprosy-affected persons and its relationship and extent of this relationship with various socio-demographic features. Indian journal of leprosy 24 April 2023

The impact of leprosy on the mental wellbeing of leprosy-affected persons and their family members – a systematic review
Depressive disorders and anxiety disorders were found to be very common among persons affected by leprosy. Feelings such as fear, shame and low self-esteem are also experienced by those affected, and their children. Further research is necessary to ensure that mental health impact is included when determining the burden of disease for leprosy, and to relieve this burden. Global mental health 9 June 2020

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Reports

Interruption of transmission and elimination of leprosy disease: Technical guidance
In 2020, countries where leprosy cases are no longer reported – and countries close to achieving this milestone – requested the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a mechanism to define criteria, definitions and cut-offs for interruption of transmission and the elimination of leprosy. The resulting taskforce, commissioned by WHO, deliberated on available evidence, consulted with national programmes, and recommended key criteria and cut-offs for verification of transmission interruption and the elimination of leprosy. Based on these recommendations, as well as further consultations, WHO developed this Leprosy Elimination Framework, which clearly defines how a country or sub-national area can move towards interruption of transmission and elimination of leprosy, followed by a phase of post-elimination surveillance and the achievement of non-endemic status. WHO 2023

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E-books

This is just a sample of the e-books the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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Journals

This is just a sample of the journals the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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