The demographic and clinical profile of patients with leprosy reactions at Rizal Medical Center, Philippines, from 2018 to 2022

Abstract

Introduction: hansen’s disease, also known as leprosy, is an infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy reactions may occur before, during, or after the completion of multidrug therapy and result from changes in the immune balance between the host and M. leprae. These reactions are acute inflammatory episodes that primarily affect the skin and nerves and are the leading cause of morbidity and neurological disability in leprosy. Identifying the demographic and clinical profile for leprosy reactions is essential for early detection and timely management to prevent complications that may lead to long-term disability. Understanding the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of affected patients can help guide effective strategies for improving patient care and health service delivery. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the relationship between characteristics and the occurrence of leprosy reactions among leprosy patients seen and treated at a public tertiary hospital in Pasig, Philippines, from 2018 to 2022. Secondary data were collected from medical records and hospital documents. Results: a total of 40 patients with leprosy were included. Most were male, resided outside the National Capital Region, and were in the 20-39 age group. Clinically, the majority were classified as lepromatous leprosy and fell under the multibacillary treatment regimen, with no extensions in treatment duration. Type I reactions were more common than type II reactions and occurred predominantly during multidrug therapy. Most patients experiencing leprosy reactions were started on prednisone 40 mg daily. The average bacteriological index showed significant improvement from pre- to post-treatment. The most frequently reported signs and symptoms included erythema and tenderness of existing lesions for type I reactions, and painful, tender nodules for type II reactions. Age, sex, leprosy spectrum, and treatment duration showed no statistically significant associations with leprosy reactions (p > 0.05). Conclusion: this study found no statistically significant associations between the sociodemographic characteristics (age and sex) and clinical characteristics (leprosy spectrum, treatment regimen classification, and treatment compliance) and the type of leprosy reaction among leprosy patients treated at a public tertiary hospital from 2018 to 2022.