TY - JOUR KW - Adolescent KW - Age Distribution KW - Child KW - Child, Preschool KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Incidence KW - India KW - leprosy KW - Male KW - Referral and Consultation KW - Risk Factors KW - Sex Distribution KW - World Health Organization AU - Horo I AU - Rao P S S S AU - Nanda N K AU - Abraham S AB -

Monitoring childhood leprosy in terms of incidence and occurrence of deformities are crucial for better control and understanding the transmission of the disease. In this paper, a profile of all new untreated leprosy patients below 15 years of age who reported at a Leprosy Referral Centre in West Bengal during 2004-2006 are described. Of 151 children studied, 84 (55.6%) were males, 33% were multibacillary and of them, 30% were smear positive. 16% had already developed grade 2 disability (WHO). Multiple nerve involvement was seen in a quarter of children. These findings highlight the seriousness of leprosy among children and the great need to address these issues urgently. Awareness, active case detection especially among contacts and motivation are the essential needs of the hour to prevent tragedy of deformed children due to a totally manageable disease.

BT - Indian journal of leprosy C1 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21229845?dopt=Abstract DA - 2010 Jan-Mar IS - 1 J2 - Indian J Lepr LA - eng N2 -

Monitoring childhood leprosy in terms of incidence and occurrence of deformities are crucial for better control and understanding the transmission of the disease. In this paper, a profile of all new untreated leprosy patients below 15 years of age who reported at a Leprosy Referral Centre in West Bengal during 2004-2006 are described. Of 151 children studied, 84 (55.6%) were males, 33% were multibacillary and of them, 30% were smear positive. 16% had already developed grade 2 disability (WHO). Multiple nerve involvement was seen in a quarter of children. These findings highlight the seriousness of leprosy among children and the great need to address these issues urgently. Awareness, active case detection especially among contacts and motivation are the essential needs of the hour to prevent tragedy of deformed children due to a totally manageable disease.

PY - 2010 SP - 33 EP - 7 T2 - Indian journal of leprosy TI - Childhood leprosy: profiles from a leprosy referral hospital in West Bengal, India. UR - http://www.ijl.org.in/jan_mar_2010.html VL - 82 SN - 0254-9395 ER -