GEOGRAPHICAL STUDIES OF LEPROSY IN AICHI PREFECTURE

Abstract

1, 546 leprosy patients observed between 1906 and 1957 were investigated by local distribution. The results are as follows.
1. In the term of Meiji (1906-11), leprosy patients in urban districts were found in 35% of total patients; in the term of Showa (1926-57) this rate is gradually increased until 45-55%.
2. The incidence rate was 7.4 per 10, 000 population at the highest and 0.2 at the lowest. Evidently different rates were seen by locality.
3. The prevalence rate during the last 10 years were distributed between 5.6 and 6.8 per 10, 000 population.
4. The type ratio (L/M+N) was observed higher in the mountain districts as 2.25 and in the plain districts where were found more leprosy patients the ratio was 1.89.
5. The sex ratios (m/f) in urban were between 2.5 and 2.3, and in rural was 2.7, that is, there were more male patients in rural.
6. Obvious difference by locality in age of the onset of the disease was observed: no onset in old ages was observed in Toyohashi, and Kita-shidara districts, while considerable cases began in old ages were observed in Higashi-kamo, Inazawa, and Nishio districts.
7. The admission rate was also different by locality. In these districts as Seto, Ama, Narumi, Chita, and Nagoya districts, where were notice to be reside more patients, the rate was shown lower.
8. The home residence of patients were between 8 and 28 years, showing obvious dif-ference by locality. Years from onset to admission in leprosaria was shown between 6 and 12.
As mentioned above, the conditions of leprosy infection different by locality, and so, a preventive counter-measure for leprosy must be taken with a consideration of locality.