Background: Leprosy occurs in all age groups, with adults constituting the majority. However, leprosy in children always drew the attention of epidemiologists as a guide to transmission of leprosy. With increasing life expectancy and decreasing prevalence of leprosy, there is going to be a significant rise of leprosy among elderly in India. In elderly leprosy patients, clinical signs are often quiet, which makes it a hidden source of infection. The detection of leprosy in elderly is of epidemiological importance, hence it is critical that due attention be given to leprosy in elderly as a possible contributor to hidden leprosy in India.
Aim: To analyze leprosy in elderly and in children from the records of new patients seen over the past 3-year period.
Methods: Analysis of details of "leprosy in elderly" and "leprosy in children'" from the records of new leprosy patients seen at a dermatology OPD of a teaching hospital over a period of 3 years.
Results: Out of 157 patients, 34 (21.6%) were above 45 years, while 18 (11.4%) were below 15 years, the difference being statistically significant ( > 0.05). Bacteriological Index (BI) values in elderly were higher compared to children. In addition, elderly had a higher percentage of multibacillary (MB) leprosy compared to children both clinically (35% vs 22%) and histopathologically (38% vs 22%).
Conclusion: Leprosy in elderly is an important entity, and there is a need to study it as a distinct group. It will provide information on hidden leprosy load and apprise us on sources of infection in the community.
BT - Indian dermatology online journal C1 - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33959528 DA - 01/2021 DO - 10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_177_18 IS - 2 J2 - Indian Dermatol Online J LA - eng N2 -Background: Leprosy occurs in all age groups, with adults constituting the majority. However, leprosy in children always drew the attention of epidemiologists as a guide to transmission of leprosy. With increasing life expectancy and decreasing prevalence of leprosy, there is going to be a significant rise of leprosy among elderly in India. In elderly leprosy patients, clinical signs are often quiet, which makes it a hidden source of infection. The detection of leprosy in elderly is of epidemiological importance, hence it is critical that due attention be given to leprosy in elderly as a possible contributor to hidden leprosy in India.
Aim: To analyze leprosy in elderly and in children from the records of new patients seen over the past 3-year period.
Methods: Analysis of details of "leprosy in elderly" and "leprosy in children'" from the records of new leprosy patients seen at a dermatology OPD of a teaching hospital over a period of 3 years.
Results: Out of 157 patients, 34 (21.6%) were above 45 years, while 18 (11.4%) were below 15 years, the difference being statistically significant ( > 0.05). Bacteriological Index (BI) values in elderly were higher compared to children. In addition, elderly had a higher percentage of multibacillary (MB) leprosy compared to children both clinically (35% vs 22%) and histopathologically (38% vs 22%).
Conclusion: Leprosy in elderly is an important entity, and there is a need to study it as a distinct group. It will provide information on hidden leprosy load and apprise us on sources of infection in the community.
PY - 2021 SP - 294 EP - 297 T2 - Indian dermatology online journal TI - Leprosy in Elderly and Children among New Cases - A 3-Year Retrospective Study. UR - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8088175/ VL - 12 SN - 2229-5178 ER -