01693nas a2200277   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653001500051653001100066653001000077653002800087653001100115653001100126653001100137653001200148653000900160653001700169653003000186100001700216700001600233245012000249300000900369490001500378520100800393022001401401       2008                            d  c200810aAdolescent10aBrazil10aChild10aCross-Sectional Studies10aFamily10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aRisk Factors10aSeroepidemiologic Studies1 aFerreira MAA1 aAntunes CMF00aFactors associated with ML Flow test seropositivity in leprosy patients and household contacts under the age of 18.  a60-60 v41 Suppl 23 a<p>This article presents the results of a cross-sectional study involving 115 newly-diagnosed leprosy patients and 1,011 household contacts, all under the age of 18. Seropositivity ratios and factors associated with a positive ML Flow were determined. The test was positive in 21.7% of patients and in 19.7% of contacts. Among patients, logistic regression indicated the association of seropositivity with positive slit skin smear and having more than five skin lesions. The tree method analysis indicated associations with skin smear, Madrid classification, number of nerves affected and age. In the contact group, index case classification, age and type of health service were associated with seropositivity in both analyses. The variables that best explained seropositivity are those associated with higher bacterial load. Therefore, the ML Flow test could be used in children to aid correct classification of patients for treatment and to identify contacts at greater risk of developing leprosy.</p>  a1678-9849