Childhood leprosy in northern India.
During a period of eight years, 132 new leprosy cases were detected in children ages 3 to 19 years. Borderline tuberculoid leprosy was present in 59%, tuberculoid in 7.6%, and indeterminate type in 3.8% patients. Single skin lesions were seen in a significant number (43.9%) of patients. Bacillus-positive disease was detected more often (17.4%) than in adults. A high frequency (66.6%) of nerve involvement was also detected. Deformities were uncommon. Males were more often affected than females, especially in the ages 10 to 14 and 15 to 19 years. A history of contact was available in only 19.7% patients, and the contact was intrafamilial in 84.6%.
Kaur
I
I
Department of Dermatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Kaur
S
S
Sharma
V K
VK
Kumar
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015439:Leprosy, Borderline / Q000453:epidemiology; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors