Childhood leprosy in an endemic area

A study was done on 794 new cases of leprosy among children (aged 0-14 years) detected and treated with MDT during 1990-1995 in Gudiyatham Taluk, South India. Incidence rates of leprosy and proportion of multibacillary cases increased with age, while bacillary + tuberculoid was most common. Over 80% had a single patch and most children were detected through surveys. Nearly 30% had history of household contacts with leprosy, mostly parents or grandparents. Reactions and relapses were not uncommon. The findings emphasize the need for more careful surveys for case detection and better follow-up in case management.