Impact of Lockdown Restrictions on Treatment of Leprosy: A Retrospective Analysis

Swapna Dominic; Sarita Sasidharanpillai; Reshmi Gangan; Ulpurath Minu; Kurisinkal S Sneha; Jaseena Hameed; Keerankulangara Devi

doi:10.4103/idoj.idoj_768_21

Impact of Lockdown Restrictions on Treatment of Leprosy: A Retrospective Analysis

Indian Dermatol Online J. 2022 May 5;13(3):370-374. doi: 10.4103/idoj.idoj_768_21. eCollection 2022 May-Jun.

Authors

Swapna Dominic¹, Sarita Sasidharanpillai¹, Reshmi Gangan², Ulpurath Minu¹, Kurisinkal S Sneha¹, Jaseena Hameed¹, Keerankulangara Devi¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Government Medical College, Kozhikode, Kerala, India.
² Department of Dermatology, Primary Health Care Corporation, Doha, Qatar.

Abstract

Context: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown the potential to affect the life of people all over the world either directly or indirectly.

Aim: To assess the impact of lockdown measures on treatment of leprosy among patients who received treatment from a tertiary referral centre.

Settings and design: A retrospective study was conducted at the dermatology department of a tertiary referral centre.

Materials and methods: We did a retrospective analysis of case records of patients with leprosy who received treatment from our tertiary referral centre from 01 March 2020 to 31 May 2021.

Results: During the 15-month period, 59 patients received multi-drug therapy (MDT) for leprosy from our centre. Thirty-two patients (54.2%) were already receiving MDT as on March 2020, and 27 others (45.8%) were diagnosed with leprosy and started on MDT during the period from March 2020 to May 2021. Two patients (3.4%) developed COVID-19 while on MDT. When lockdown measures were implemented, 12 patients (12/59, 20.3%) discontinued treatment, citing conveyance difficulties. Three patients (3/59, 5.1%) were lost to follow-up.

Limitations: Small sample size and reliance on retrospective data from a single centre were the major limitations of the study.

Conclusion: A conscious effort is needed from healthcare professionals and the government to ensure that implementation of national programmes is not adversely affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: Coronavirus disease-2019; Kerala; leprosy; lockdown measures; regular treatment.