02803nas a2200349   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001500059653002100074653001300095653001000108653001100118653001900129653001100148653001400159653002300173653001200196653000900208653002000217653002100237653002200258653003000280100001500310700001700325700001900342245009300361856006100454300001000515490000700525520190700532022001402439       2009                            d  c2009 Sep-Dec10aAdolescent10aAge Distribution10aCameroon10aChild10aFemale10aHealth Surveys10aHumans10aIncidence10aLeprostatic Agents10aleprosy10aMale10aMedical Records10aSex Distribution10aTreatment Outcome10aWorld Health Organization1 aNsagha D S1 aBamgboye E A1 aOyediran A B O00aChildhood leprosy in Essimbiland of Cameroon: results of chart review and school survey.  uhttps://www.ajol.info/index.php/nqjhm/article/view/54486  a214-90 v193 a<p><strong>BACKGROUND: </strong>The WHO targeted to eliminate leprosy from the world as a public health problem by reducing the prevalence to less than 1 case per 10000 population based on the use of multi-drug therapy (MDT). Despite the success of MDT, endemic pools still exist in some countries that have attained the national elimination threshold.</p>

<p><strong>OBJECTIVE: </strong>Assess the burden of childhood leprosy and control efforts in Essimbiland of Cameroon.</p>

<p><strong>METHODS: </strong>The records of children patients were reviewed in two main primary health care institutions and 4 primary schools in Essimbiland having 459 pupils were surveyed for leprosy. A purposive sampling of all available registers and pupils was used.</p>

<p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>A total of 1129 case files were reviewed covering the periods before MDT (1961-1967) implementation in 1982 and post MDT (1982-1999); no records were available from 1968-1991. From chart review, 42 (23.3%) new leprosy cases from 1961-1967 and 35 (12.2%) from 1982-1998 were from the Mbingo leprosarium. 31 (39.7%) of 78 childhood leprosy cases from chart review [1961-1967 and 1982-1999] were from Essimbiland. Of the 35 incident childhood leprosy cases from 1982-1998, 24 (68.6%) were from Essimbiland compared to other divisions. Poor record - keeping on leprosy was common in the study area. Among 459 pupils surveyed in 4 primary schools, 6 (1.3%) new leprosy cases were identified giving a prevalence of 131 per 10,000 pupils. The common skin lesion was on the back but one pupil had both hands clawed. 16 (3.5%) pupils were placed on observation. All the new leprosy cases from the school survey were indigenes of Essimbiland.</p>

<p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Childhood leprosy is a public health problem in the Essimbiland requiring school surveys and a house-to-house search for new cases.</p>
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