Leprosy remains an important public health challenge in India

In the year 2011 a total of 219,075 new leprosy cases were registered in the world, of whom 127,295 were in India. Among the new cases detected in India, approximately 3 per cent have grade 2 disability, referring to the presence of visible (and often permanent) deformity. It has been estimated that in 2015 there will be nearly 500,000 people living in India with grade 2 disability due to leprosy. Leprosy affects the peripheral nervous system and in the absence of timely treatment this will lead to irreversible neuropathy in a large proportion of cases. This in turn leads to secondary impairments, such as wounds caused by burns or pressure on the sole of the foot, contractures of fingers and toes and visual impairment. These impairments can finally lead to limitations in activities of daily living and/or restrictions in social participation. Leprosy is thereby a leading cause of preventable disability in India and poses a major public health challenge for the country. [...