CURRENT PROFILE OF ACTIVE LEPROSY IN GREECE - A 5-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY (1988-1992)

The epidemiological characteristics of newly diagnosed, active leprosy cases (incidence, N = 16 Greeks and 4 expatriates) and relapsed cases (recurrences, N = 25, all Greeks) were studied. Most of the cases wer e multibacillary, over 50% being lepromatous. The relapses were analyz ed by sex, disease duration and residence (rural or urban). Most of th e newly diagnosed cases presented with nonreactional skin lesions (70% ). The relapses were self-reported and detected mainly because of type 2 leprosy reactions (56%). The main source of the infection for new c ases was members of their former extended family. The statistical tren d of leprosy in Greece is a continuing decline in a country which alre ady has a very low endemicity.