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Leprosy in young urban children.
1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
International Journal of Dermatology
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Leprosy affects 3.8% of children aged 0-14, predominantly males from endemic regions. The study highlights a significant delay between disease onset and reporting, with borderline leprosy being most common.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Leprosy remains a public health concern, particularly in endemic regions.
- Understanding pediatric leprosy is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.
- Immigration patterns can influence disease distribution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of leprosy in children (0-14 years).
- To analyze the clinical presentation, age of onset, and reporting delay in pediatric leprosy patients.
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of skin-slit smears in different leprosy types.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric leprosy cases.
- Clinical examination and classification of leprosy types.
- Microscopic examination of skin-slit smears.
Main Results:
- Children constituted 3.8% of leprosy patients, with a male preponderance.
- Most pediatric cases were immigrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
- Borderline leprosy was the most frequent type, with onset between 5-9 years.
- A significant delay was observed between disease onset and patient reporting.
- Skin-slit smears were positive in borderline borderline (BB), borderline lepromatous (BL), and lepromatous lepromatous (LL) forms.
- Good clinicopathologic correlation was noted.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric leprosy is predominantly seen in immigrant children from endemic areas.
- Delayed reporting contributes to disease progression and potential complications.
- Skin-slit smears are valuable for diagnosing active infectious leprosy in children.