IINTRODUCTION: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that can lead to physical incapacity. METHODS: The medical records of 167 patients diagnosed with leprosy between 2003 and 2007 were reviewed. RESULTS: Most of the patients (60%) presented physical incapacity at the time of diagnosis: 34% with grade I and 26% with grade II. It was observed that the degree of incapacity had a direct correlation with the duration of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: Leprosy is still diagnosed late, which may contribute towards maintaining this endemic disease.
Epidemiology; Physical incapacity; Leprosy
