Insight into Paediatric Versus Adult Leprosy: A Comparative, Analytical Study from India

Pediatric leprosy, though relatively less common compared to adult cases, presents challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and management. Despite global efforts to eradicate leprosy, it remains endemic in certain regions, particularly low-resource settings.

To analyse differences in clinical presentation of pediatric leprosy as compared to adult leprosy from leprosy clinic records of a tertiary care hospital and outline the clinical implications.

A retrospective analysis of the records of all the registered paediatric (aged ≤ 18 years) and adult cases of leprosy from January 2010 to December 2021 (12-year period) who presented to the leprosy clinic of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital in Delhi was carried out. History, examination, and investigation parameters were noted from standardised case record forms. The variables were compared between cases of childhood and adult leprosy.

Out of total 1006 recorded cases of leprosy, 16.8% were children and 83.2% were adults. Maximum cases (65.7%) were of borderline tuberculoid (BT) leprosy in children compared to 41.7% BT cases in adults. Type 1 and type 2 leprosy reactions were seen in 11.2% and 7.1% paediatric cases, respectively, compared to 9.8% and 12.3% cases in adults, respectively. Paralytic deformity was seen in 32.5% child cases and 35% adult cases. Claw hand and foot drop was seen in 17.2% and 3.6% cases of leprosy in children and 16.1% and 6.5% cases in adults. A total of 11.8% children developed facial palsy. Slit skin smear was positive in 15.4% paediatric and 30.1% adult cases. Treatment was completed in 65.1% child cases and 27.8% children defaulted. In adult cases, treatment was completed in 61.8% cases and 28.9% cases defaulted.

Paediatric leprosy in our study had a high number of cases of type 1 lepra reaction, paralytic deformities, disabilities, pure neuritic leprosy, and default rate. Our study highlights the need of early detection, timely intervention, and increasing community awareness to ensure early and adequate management of paediatric leprosy.