There are many ways to detect leprosy patients but the most common and
recommended way is through the out-patient skin clinics. We hope very much that the
time will come when both leprosy patients and other patients can be treated freely at
the same clinic. Only through educating and enlightening the public regarding leprosy
can this be done.
In order to conduct further study on this problem, a report was published on ¡°The
Significance of Seeing Dermatology Out-Patients with the Purpose of Detecting Leprosy
Patients.¡± Following this report continued research was also conducted for the past
4years, from 1976 to 1979, at Keimyung Presbyterian Medical Center, Kyung-book
Medical Hospital, Fatima Clinic-Department of Dermatology, Catholic Skin Clinic in
Chilgok and the Leprosy Mission. Of 114,496 patients who visited the hospitals and
clinics for the past four rears, 776 patients were diagnosed as having leprosy.
The following results have been obtained after having studied the frequency of cases,
type of leprosy, age distribution and seasonal distribution conducted among 776 patients:
1. The total number of patients seen at the out-patient clinics was 114,496 and of
these patients, 776 were diagnosed as having leprosy. The ratio of the leprosy patients
was 5.13 : 1000.
2. Annual statistics have shown a decrease in the number of leprosy patients.
3. The frequency of cases among males and females was 1.8 : 1.
4. The type of leprosy in order of frequency was L Type, T Type, B Group and I
Group.
5. By seasonal distribution 35.6% of the cases occurred in the spring, 24.5% in the
winter, 23.7% in the summer and 16.3% in the fall.
6. By age distribution, 22.7% were between 40¡50 years of age, 22.4% between 30¡
40 years of age, and 22.3% between 20¡30 years of age.
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