This study is the result of a survey made on 1,672 leprosy patients living in
settlement villages in Seoul, Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces and also 1,061
out-patients at the Chronic Disease Laboratory who do not live in settlement villages.
Among settlement villagers, the onset age of leprosy was highest between the ages of
10-19 years. Among out-patients, the onest age was highest between the ages of 20-29
years.
The following results were obtained:
1. An analysis was made of the possible causes for this difference in age of onset
between settlement villagers and non-settled out-patients. Possible causal factors
considered were patient selection, statistical error and method of interview. None of
these seemed to be significant causes for the difference found in age of onset. It was
found that the majority of patients in settlement villages had contracted the disease
before 1960 (77.9%). It was also found that the majority of out-patients had contracted
the disease after 1960 (74.5%). Therefore, we find a change in the pattern of age of
onset before and after 1960. Before 1960 the disease was contracted mainly in the
younger age-group (10-19 years). After 1960, the age of onset had changed to the older
age-group (20-29 years).
2. It was found that the male-female ratio tended to decrease in urban areas. This
seems to suggest on difference in susceptibility to the disease between male and female
when possible contact with the disease is similar.
3. It was not possible to decide whether L-type leprosy is more prevalent in Korea.
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