Active leprosy in Greece: a 20-year survey (1988-2007).

A retrospective study (1988-2007) of all newly detected (n = 26) and relapsed (n = 51) Greek cases of leprosy was carried out. Multibacillary types prevailed in both patient groups (n = 68, 88.3%). Seven immigrants from endemic areas were also referred with multibacillary leprosy. Newly detected Greek cases resided more frequently in rural areas. Incident and relapsed multibacillary disease cases did not differ by age. Diagnosis was mainly made on the basis of skin lesions rather than leprosy reactions. Leprosy in Greece (total population, ten million) has the epidemiological characteristics of a disease that is dying out, without gender inequalities.