A total of 16 cases of leprosy were identified during the second round of the Leprosy Case Detection Campaign (LCDC) conducted in Tiruchi district from January 19 to February 6.
Carried out by Deputy Director of Medical Services (Leprosy), the campaign helped detect 16 cases — 12 men and four women. Of these, one was reported in Tiruchi city, one in the tribal villages of Pachamalai and the remaining 14 in rural blocks of the district. In the first round of the survey in 2025 in two phases, about 60 cases were detected.
Leprosy cases are classified based on the number of skin patches. Cases with up to five skin patches are categorised as paucibacillary and are treated for six months while cases with over five patches are classified as multibacillary and require a year-long treatment. Of the 16 cases detected in the recent survey, seven were paucibacillary and the remaining were multibacillary, said T.S. Baskaran, an official.
Teams comprising health workers, nursing students, and volunteers conducted door-to-door visits between 7.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. During the visits, residents were screened for symptoms such as reddish skin patches, numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, and painful nerves. Suspected cases were subsequently verified by a medical supervisor, following which treatment cards were issued to confirmed patients. The survey was extended to schools and colleges.
As part of the treatment, patients are provided with medical kits containing medication, cotton, gauze, scrub, and ointment. Gloves, goggles, and protective footwear are supplied twice a year based on the patient’s needs.
Patients requiring reconstructive surgery (RCS) to correct deformities caused by nerve damage such as claw, hand, foot drop, lagophthalmos (inability to close the eyes), and facial disfigurement, are offered free treatment at the Leprosy Centre in Fatima Nagar. In addition, a welfare allowance of ₹12,000 is provided to each patient undergoing such surgery.
“The campaign has indicated a declining trend in the incidence of leprosy in the district. However, early detection remains crucial to prevent permanent nerve damage, disability, and further transmission of the disease,” said A. Shanthi, Deputy Director of Health Services.
Published – February 06, 2026 06:25 pm IST
