Shillong: More than 30 cases of leprosy were diagnosed last year in the State and the alarming issue is 30% of these cases led to disabilities indicating that they were diagnosed late due to various reasons, it was revealed during a discussion on World Leprosy Day on Saturday.
Leprosy is prevalent in Meghalaya as well as other states of the North East and this was the topic of discussion at the programme organised by the Department of Dermatology and Community Medicine in collaboration with National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP), Meghalaya, at NEIGRIHMS.
Experts said there is a need for community participation to detect cases of leprosy as late diagnosis may lead to more disease transmission and disability.
The three cardinal signs of leprosy, which are easy for case detection, are less colour/reddish patch with sensory loss, thickened nerve and Mycobacterium leprae bacilli under microscope.
Suk Ryntathiang, State Leprosy Officer, talked on the burden of leprosy in Meghalaya and said 33 patients were diagnosed in 2016.
NEIGRIHMS is taking a very active role in the diagnosis and treatment of leprosy patients in Meghalaya and neighbouring states.
Ashish Wagh, consultant NLEP from Bihar, spoke about reconstructive surgery for patients with disability.
Altogether 140 participants, including state and district leprosy programme officials and faculty members from NEIGRIHMS, attended the programme.
Poster competition was also held among medical students.
