Clinical, bacteriological, and histopathological characteristics of children with leprosy: A retrospective, analytical study in dermatology outpatient department of tertiary care centre

Abstract

Background: Leprosy is a major public-health problem in developing countries. According to National Leprosy Elimination Program report of March 2012, there were a total of about 0.13 million cases of leprosy in India, 9.7% of which were children. Studies pertaining to proportion and characteristics of pediatric cases are few in number. Aim: The aim of the following study is to examine clinical, bacteriological and histopathological characteristics of pediatric leprosy cases in community. Methods: A retrospective, analytical study of patients seen from 01 January 2009 to 30 June 2013 in dermatology out-patient department of tertiary care center in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Results: Study yielded 24 pediatric cases of leprosy. The age of child leprosy cases ranged from 3 to 12 years with mean of 9.25 ΁ 2.33. Most of the cases were multibacillary (MB) (95.8%). A large proportion of children (45.8%) had single skin lesion (SSL). Of the 11 SSL cases examined histopathologically, 8 (72.7%) showed features of borderline tuberculoid, 1 (9%) each of borderline lepromatous, indeterminate type and tuberculoid leprosy. Overall, one case had deformity (Grade 2) and 8.7% of MB cases were smear positive. Overall 2 patients had history of contact.Conclusion: The clinical, bacteriological and histopathological characteristics of cases in children, especially the high percentage of MB cases evidently indicate the grave nature of the problem of undetected child leprosy, recent active transmission and highlight implications on individual patients and the community.