Usefulness of outreach clinics on active case detection of leprosy in a high endemic area in Sri Lanka

Though Sri Lanka reports low endemicity and a lesser number of cases detected annually, leprosy patients below 14 years age are rising. Therefore, active case finding is essential. A skin clinic was conducted in the District Hospital (DH), Lunawa Colombo where higher numbers had been reported past. The people were alerted on through public health staff to identify new cases. Out 54 persons who attended clinic, one clinically diagnosed as having multibacillary another subsequently among five suspected referred for biopsy, giving yield 0.37 per 10 000 screened (95% CI: 0.45, 1.26). This high disease indicates that possible strategy endemic areas, which could be enhanced with combination outreach programs like household surveys or awareness at institutions schools.