title: [Active search for leprosy and other skin diseases in school children from Agua de Dios, Colombia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Actively searching for leprosy, other skin diseases and BCG vaccination scars amongst school children from Agua de Dios, the municipality having the highest prevalence of leprosy in Colombia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A clinical examination of the children was carried out by nurses, interns, general practitioners and experts on leprosy. Skin smear tests and skin biopsies were performed when the clinical findings suggested leprosy. Anti-phenolic glycolipid antibodies in blood were determined in special cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  86 % of the 2 844 school children were examined; 833 had skin diseases and 16 % of these required evaluation by specialists. Four new cases of paucibacillary leprosy, two indeterminate and two primary polyneuritic cases were found. Pediculosis capitis, pityriasis alba, tinea versicolor, hypopigmented nevus, insect bites and miliaria were frequently detected. BCG vaccination scars were absent in 387 children; following several logistical problems, they were vaccinated. Four children had signs of childhood abuse. An 11-year-old girl presented hypopigmented mycosis fungoides. All diseases and conditions found were treated. The community received information regarding the results, emphasising the importance of an early diagnosis of leprosy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of leprosy found (16/10,000) was 123 times higher than the rest of the country's incidence. It is advisable to continue clinical examinations in Agua de Dios and research into risk factors for acquiring leprosy.
authors.affiliation: Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Sabana, Bogotá, Colombia. gerzaín-rodriguez@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Gerzaín
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Rosalba
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Deysy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Hilda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Luisa F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Elkin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Yenny
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gómez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*