Case detection through school surveys in Greater Bombay.

Of the 55,502 students examined 214 were found to be suffering from leprosy, the case-detection rate being 3.9 per 1000. Age of the students showed no relation to the occurrence of leprosy. Sex of the student was significant. Leprosy was more common among the male students. Leprosy rate amongst Tamil and Urdu speaking students was significanlty more than amongst Marathi and other language groups. 98% of cases were tuberculoid, 2% cases intermediate and nil lepromatous. 4% of cases were bacteriologically positive. Over 99% of cases were without deformity 86% of cases were in early stages. In a significant number of leprosy cases the single lesion (presumably initial lesion) was on the covered parts of the body.