Prevalence and clinical spectrum of childhood leprosy in a tertiary care hospital in Kolar

Background and Design: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous, infectious disease that primarily affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Leprosy in children is an indicator of active transmission in the community. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence and clinical spectrum of childhood leprosy and highlight the importance of examining close contacts and the impact of detection and treatment of leprosy in the community. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients presenting to the dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital attached to a medical college during the years 2011-2019. Results: Two hundred and twenty-three patients with leprosy were analyzed, of which 201 were adults and 22 were children. Children constituted 9.87% of the patients (approx. one child with leprosy for every 10 adults with leprosy). Of 22 children with leprosy, 13 (59.09%) were boys and nine (40.90%) were girls, with a ratio of 1.4:1. Twelve of twenty-two child patients (54.54%) had a single patch, while 10 of 22 (45.45%) had more than one skin lesion. Fourteen patients (63.63%) were diagnosed clinically with borderline tuberculoid (BT) leprosy, and six patients (27.27%) had borderline lepromatous leprosy. Of the fourteen patients with BT leprosy, 10 patients (71.4%) had a single lesion. Eleven patients (50%) were diagnosed with multibacillary leprosy, and eleven patients (50%) were diagnosed with paucibacillary leprosy. A clinicopathological correlation was noted in 16 patients (72.72%). Family contact was observed in four children with leprosy. Conclusion: A high proportion of childhood leprosy cases indicates active transmission and warrants awareness among the community members and healthcare workers in terms of early detection and treatment of childhood and adult leprosy. This helps in preventing transmission, development of grave deformities, and associated social stigma of leprosy among the community members.