Clinical leprosy in Japan

Abstract

The Leprosy Prevention Law was abolished at the end of March, 1996. Since medical insurance for leprosy started in April, 1996, dermatologists in clinics have to take care of leprosy patients. However, dermatologists have not learned enough about leprosy, and only a few of them are familiar with it. Japanese patients newly diagnosed with leprosy in Japan have decreasing, and patients who come from foreign countries to work in Japan have more important in leprosy control. Therefore, it is important to educate dermatologists about leprosy. Recently, diagnostic guides including information about network systems have become available in book stores. It is possible to obtain all kinds of information about leprosy from the network systems.