IX NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES, CHENNAI, OCT 2006

Dr. Lakshmiprabha, Postgraduate
Dr. J. Ganesh, Dr. S. Ambikapathy, Dr. Kamlarathinam, Dr. N. T. Ravi, Assistant Professors
Dr. L. Umadevi, Dr. A. M. Jayaraman, Professors
Institute of Social Pediatrics and Dept of Dermatology, Stanley Medical College, Chennai 600001

Leprosy, a disease as old as mankind has been a public health problem to many developing countries including India. At present the estimated number of cases of leprosy is 0.62 million with a prevalence rate of 3,72/10000. About 15% of the cases are below the age of 15 years. Tamilnadu has a prevalence rate of 2.34/10000. Our study explores the magnitude of problem of leprosy cases among the pediatric dermatological illness.

Aims & Objectives: To find the incidence and clinical profile of childhood leprosy among the pediatric dermatological illnesses.

Subjects & Methods: All children presented to pediatric dermatology department from June 2003 to June 2006 were thoroughly examined and diagnosed by eliciting cardinal signs of leprosy through systematic clinical and bacteriological examination.

Results: Out of 32,144 children examined, 118 were detected to have leprosy. The incidence was found to be 1.1%. Of them 56 (47.5%) were males and 62 (52.5%) were females. The youngest case detected was 3 years old. History of contact was present in 30 (25.4%). Commonest type of leprosy was found to be BT (90.5%) followed by TT (6.9%). 2 (1.7%) were smear positive and 116 (98.3%) were smear negative. Peripheral nerve thickening were present in 21 (17.8%) Grade II deformity was observed in 2 1.7%).

Conclusion: Our study studied showed that new childhood leprosy cases continue to present in outpatient clinics with significant family contact.

NCPID 2006 - Conference Abstracts. Pediatric Oncall [serial online] 2007 [cited 15 April 2007(Supplement 4)];4. Available from:
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