Leprosy among patient contacts: a multilevel study of risk factors.

ABSTRACT:

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with developing leprosy among the contacts of newly-diagnosed leprosy patients.

Methodology/principal findings

A total of 6,158 contacts and 1,201 leprosy patients of the cohort who were diagnosed and treated at the Leprosy Laboratory of Fiocruz from 1987 to 2007 were included. The contact variables analyzed were sex; age; educational and income levels; blood relationship, if any, to the index case; household or non-household relationship; length of time of close association with the index case; receipt of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BGG) vaccine and presence of BCG scar. Index cases variables included sex, age, educational level, family size, bacillary load, and disability grade. Multilevel logistic regressio

SUBMITTER: Sales AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3057944 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature