title: Late lepromin reaction in untreated patients with indeterminate leprosy under 21 years old in Burma.
abstract: Studies on lepromin reactivity in indeterminate (I) leprosy have usually been carried out among patients in whom the disease appeared 1 or more years before testing. This may result in misleading findings because a high proportion of patients, probably those showing moderate or strong lepromin reactions, seem to progress to the tuberculoid pole of leprosy in a relatively short time (<1 year), and in many the lesions heal spontaneously. The object of the present study was to determine the frequency and intensity of late lepromin reactions (macroscopic readings) in untreated I patients aged under 21 years who had had the disease for less than 1 year. Of 209 patients tested with lepromin containing 160 x 10(6) bacilli/ml only a small proportion ( not equal 7%) showed a negative or doubtful lepromin reaction, while 61.5% were 2+ and 3+ reactors. These findings indicate that a favourable outcome may be expected in most I cases in the trial area.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D006801:Humans; D007916:Lepromin; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002052:Myanmar; D012882:Skin Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007916:Lepromin