PROFILE OF LEPROSY NOTIFICATIONS IN CHILDREN UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Objective: to analyze the epidemiological profile of new cases of leprosy in children under 15 years of age in Northeast Brazil, between 2012 and 2022. Method: ecological, retrospective, epidemiological study, carried out using data from the Ministry's Notifiable Diseases Information System of Health, in December 2023. Results: 9,252 new cases were reported in children under 15 years of age. Of these, 4,853 (52.5%) were male, 5,783 (62.5%) were aged 10-14, 6,245 (67.5%) were mixed race and 6,026 (65.1%) were educated fundamental incomplete. There was a predominance of paucibacillary cases (N=4,826/52.2%), dimorphic (N=3,170/34.3%), with zero degree of disability (N=6,975/75.4%), with a single lesion (N=3,645 /39.4%), negative smear microscopy (N=3,708/40.1%), no reaction (N=6,110/66.1%) and referred for six doses of multidrug therapy (N=4,772/51.6%). Final considerations: it was found that leprosy in children under 15 years of age is a serious public health problem, requiring actions to control it.