Estimation of Under-Reporting of Visceral Leishmaniasis Cases in Bihar, India

Vijay P. Singh Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Vijay P. Singh in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Alok Ranjan Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Alok Ranjan in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Roshan K. Topno Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Roshan K. Topno in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Rakesh B. Verma Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Rakesh B. Verma in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Niyamat A. Siddique Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Niyamat A. Siddique in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Vidya N. Ravidas Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Vidya N. Ravidas in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Narendra Kumar Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Narendra Kumar in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Krishna Pandey Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Krishna Pandey in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Pradeep Das Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Division of Clinical Medicine, and Division of Social Sciences, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Patna, Bihar, India

Search for other papers by Pradeep Das in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Restricted access

We estimated the level of under-reporting of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases by comparing the actual reported cases with those expected as estimated using age- and sex-stratified incidence proportions obtained in a cohort of 31,324 persons. The average incidence proportion of VL cases in study population was 5.7/1,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.88–6.54) and 1.09/1,000 persons (95% CI = 0.99–1.20) based on the reported cases in two primary health centers. The overall magnitude of VL cases not reported to the government agencies was higher by a factor 4.17 (95% CI = 3.75–4.63) than for reported cases. The levels of under-reporting were 4.74 (95% CI = 4.11–5.47) in males and 3.51 (95% CI = 2.99–4.11) in females with no significant difference (P > 0.05). It was significantly higher in persons ≥ 30 years of age than in persons 30 years of age (P < 0.05).

Author Notes

*Address correspondence to Vijay P. Singh, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agam Kuan, Patna, PIN Code 800 007, Bihar, India. E-mail: drvpsingh20@yahoo.com

Authors' address: Vijay P. Singh, Alok Ranjan, Roshan K. Topno, Rakesh B. Verma, Niyamat A. Siddique, Vidya N. Ravidas, Narendra Kumar, Krishna Pandey, and Pradeep Das, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Science, Indian Council of Medical Research, Agam Kuan, Patna, PIN Code 800 007, Bihar, India.

  • 1.

    Desjeux P, 1992. Human leishmaniases: epidemiology and public health aspects. World Health Stat Q 45: 267275.

  • 2.

    Desjeux P, 1996. Leishmaniasis: public health aspects and control. Clin Dermatol 14: 417423.

  • 3.

    Guerin PJ, Olliaro P, Sundar S, Boelaert M, Croft SL, Desjeux P, Wasunna MK, Bryceson AD, 2002. Visceral leishmaniasis: current status of control, diagnosis, and treatment, and a proposed research and development agenda. Lancet Infect Dis 2: 494501.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 4.

    Murray HW, 2002. Kala-azar: progress against a neglected disease. N Engl J Med 347: 17931794.

  • 5.

    Bora D, 1999. Epidemiology of visceral leishmaniasis in India. Natl Med J India 12: 6268.

  • 6.

    Ranjan A, Bhattacharya SK, 2001. Epidemiology of Kala-azar in India. Bhattacharya SK, ed. Proceedings of a World Health Organization Workshop on Strategies for Control of Kala-azar and Malaria. 1118.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 7.

    Thakur CP, 2000. Socio-economies of visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar (India). Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 94: 156157.

  • 8.

    World Health Organization, 2005. WHO/TDR. Press Release: Elimination of Kala-azar from Endemic Countries in the South-East Asia Region. Health Ministers Sign Memorandum of Understanding. Geneva/New Delhi, May 18, 2005. Available at: http://www.who.int/tdrold/publications/tdrnews/news75/leish_elimination.htm. Accessed June 17, 2009.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 9.

    Sanyal RK, Banerjee DP, Ghosh TK, Ghosh JN, Misra BS, Roy YP, 1979. A longitudinal review of kala-azar in Bihar. J Commun Dis 11: 149169.

  • 10.

    Bora D, Singh J, Bhattacharjee J, Kureel V, Singh S, Sharma RS, 1994. An estimate of kala-azar in 1991 in district Vaishali and Bihar. J Commun Dis 26: 120122.

  • 11.

    Singh SP, Reddy DCS, Rai M, Sundar S, 2006. Serious underreporting of visceral leishmaniasis through passive case reporting in Bihar, India. Trop Med Int Health 11: 899905.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 12.

    Census of India, 2001. Provisional Population Totals, Series 1. New Delhi: Registrar General of India, Paper 1 of 2001.

  • 13.

    Greenland S, Rothman KJ, 1998. Introduction to categorical statistics. Rothman KJ, Greenland S, eds. Modern Epidemiology. Second edition. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, 231252.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 14.

    Control of the Leishmaniasis, 1990. Report of a World Health Organization Expert Committee. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser 793: 1158.

  • 15.

    Hati AK, 1989. Visceral Leishmaniasis in India: past and present 1989–91. J Vivekanand Institute Med Sci 12–14: 2125.

  • 16.

    Hati AK, Nandy A, Chowdhary AB, 1995. An Epidemic Outbreak of Kala-Azar in a District of West Bengal, India. Geneva: World Health Organization. WHO/VBC/85911:19.

  • 17.

    Napier LE, 1925. An epidemiological consideration of the transmission of kala-azar in India. Indian J Med Res 14: 219265.

  • 18.

    Napier LE, Dasgupta CR, 1931. An epidemiological investigation of kala-azar in rural areas in Bengal. Indian J Med Res 19: 295341.

  • 19.

    Ross VC, 1928. Report on the kala-azar survey in Patna city. Indian Med Gazatte 68: 486490.

  • 20.

    Sanyal RK, Alam SN, Kaul SM, Wattal BL, 1979. Some observations on epidemiology of current outbreaks of kala-azar in Bihar. J Commun Dis 11: 170182.

  • 21.

    Thakur CP, 1984. Epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic features of Bihar kala-azar (including post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis). Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 78: 391398.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 22.

    Basu D, Mallik KK, 1995. Change in age incidence of kala-azar in India. Indian J Public Health 39: 24.

  • 23.

    Dhiman RC, Sen AB, 1991. Epidemiology of kala-azar in rural Bihar (India), using village as a component of study. Indian J Med Res 93: 153160.

Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 1700 1570 687
Full Text Views 321 10 4
PDF Downloads 97 10 4
 

 

 

 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save