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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz
ISSN: 1678-8060 EISSN: 1678-8060
Vol. 104, No. 6, 2009, pp. 935-936
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Bioline Code: oc09196
Full paper language: English
Document type: Short Communication
Document available free of charge
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Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Vol. 104, No. 6, 2009, pp. 935-936
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Clinical, bacteriological and immunological follow-up of household contacts of leprosy patients from a post-elimination area - Antioquia, Colombia
Cardona-Castro, Nora; Beltrán-Alzate, Juan Camilo & Romero-Montoya, Marcela
Abstract
Follow-up of the household contacts (HHC) of leprosy patients is still the best strategy for early detection of leprosy. HHC from a post-elimination region of Colombia studied in 2001-2002 were re-contacted in 2007. They were tested at both times by clinical examination, bacillary index (BI), PCR from a slit skin smear (SSS) and anti PGL-1 IgM titres. Thirty-two of 61 HHC (52%) were re-contacted. Nine HHC (28%) showed sero-conversion and one had a skin lesion (BI negative, nested PCR positive). Periodic evaluation of HHC can contribute to the detection of infected HHC as well as new and early leprosy cases.
Keywords
household contacts - leprosy patients - follow-up - post-elimination region
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