title: Deformities due to Leprosy in Children under Fifteen Years Old as an Indicator of Quality of the Leprosy Control Programme in Brazilian Municipalities.
abstract: The present study aims at analysing the degree of deformity in leprosy cases diagnosed in children under 15 years old and its relationship with operational and epidemiological factors. This epidemiological cross-sectional study was carried out at municipalities of three microregions in a Brazilian hyperendemic area. Data between 1998 and 2010 was collected from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases database. The average coefficient of detection was 32.96/100.000 inhabitants; 7.61% of new cases were diagnosed in children under 15 years old; 5% in this age group were grade 2 deformity at diagnosis. Prevalence of leprosy cases in children under 15 years old with deformity was higher in males (PR = 2.65;P = 0.032; CI 95%: 1.09-6.45) and in multibacillary patients (PR = 14.68;P < 0.001; CI 95%: 3.54-60.87) and lower when the detection mode was passive (PR = 0.73,P = 0.47, CI 95%: 0.31-1.73). Such context suggests high transmissibility and early exposure to Mycobacterium leprae since a lot of cases were diagnosed in children under fifteen years old and the incubation period of the leprosy bacillus varies from 02 to 07 years. This situation contributes to maintaining the chain of disease transmission in the area and indicates that health care services should intensify leprosy control.
authors.affiliation: Nursing School, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Avenida Alfredo Balena, 190/402, Santa Efigênia, 30130-100 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Carlos Félix
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lana
authors.forename: Angélica da Conceição Oliveira Coelho
authors.initials: Ada C
authors.lastname: Fabri
authors.forename: Fabiana Nascimento
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Ana Paula Mendes
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.forename: Fernanda Moura
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lanza