Leprosy in children: a retrospective study in China, 1986-1997

Title:
Leprosy in children: a retrospective study in China, 1986-1997

Author:
Chen X, Li W, Jiang C, Ye G

Address:
National Center for STD and Leprosy Control, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 12 Jiangwangmiao Road, Nanjing 210042, P. R. China

Source:
Journal Tropical Pediatrics, 2000 (46): 207-11

Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemic profiles of leprosy in children in China. METHOD: Based on the National Leprosy Recording and reporting System, a total of 1208 child cases detected during the years 1986-1997 in China were used to undertake the study. RESULTS: The number of child cases constituted 3-4 per cent of the total during this period although the incidence rates decreased dramatically. The detection rate significantly increased with age, and the average rate of 0.027 per 100,000 population was much lower than that in adults. In the pediatric cases, children in the younger age group had a higher prevalence of solitary lesions and lower prevalence of reactions and disabilities than the older group. A total of 70.01 per cent of the affected cases were infected by intra-familial contact, 35.60 per cent were detected by contact examination, and another 22.86 per cent by active surveys. CONCLUSION: The results of the study suggest that leprosy in children is not a public health problem at the present in China, but the regular screening of children in the family of patients is still one of the important ways to detect child cases and should be recommended.

Key words: Leprosy; Children; China

Language: English