Epidemiology of leprosy in Taiwan; its pattern in children.

OBJECTIVE: To study the epidemiology of leprosy in children in Taiwan.

SETTING: Taiwan, with a population increase from 3.3 to 21.7 million, several tides of immigration and national leprosy control programs, from 1910 to 1997.

DESIGN: To collect and analyze the documents of Taiwan leprosy surveys and charts of the National Leprosy Control Center.

PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Cumulative and new number of all-age and pediatric-age patients, prevalence rates, new case detection rates, and results of skin bacterial smears.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence rates of all-age leprosy ranged between 1.54 and 3.22 per 10,000 population. The proportion of children among all-age patients reached the highest of 4.93% in 1966, dropping to 0% in 1984 and thereafter, until 1988 and 1991 when two and one pediatric-age patients appeared, respectively, following the influx of immigrants from leprosy-endemic countries. The rise and fall of new patients younger than 15 years and 15 years or older were slightly correlated (r = 0.935, p < 0.001). Detection and confirmation of leprosy in children are usually belated. Physicians should still be acquainted with the clinical diagnosis of leprosy since sporadic cases of leprosy can reappear, particularly among children coming from endemic countries.