Journal of Pediatric Care

Childhood leprosy in post elimination era; a real challenge to face

Joint Event on 25^th World Pediatrics Conference & 6^th International Conference on Pediatric Critical Care and Emergency Medicine
October 18- 20, 2018 Warsaw, Poland

Vikash Paudel and Baskota Rabindra

National Medical College, Nepal Leprosy Control Division, Nepal

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Pediatr Care

DOI: 10.21767/2471-805X-C4-015

Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy is a chronic infectious, disabling social disease. The most vulnerable group is children since they reflect disease transmission and the efficiency of disease control.

Objectives: To study the epidemiological and clinical trends of childhood cases of leprosy in Nepal during 2010-2016

Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken analyzing childhood leprosy (≤15 years) from national leprosy registry.

Results: A total of 19206 new cases of leprosy were registered during this period, of which 1177 cases (6.12%) were of children. National prevalence is below the leprosy elimination cutoff but the trend is gradually increasing in recent years (from 0.77 to 0.82/10000). Similar is with the new cases among the children reflecting the active transmission. The mean age of the children was 10.5 years. The average slit skin smear positivity was only 27% patients of the tested. The MB among child comprised of 38% and PB comprised 62% whereas total new MB cases were significantly higher (52%). Neuritis occurred in 21% and grade II disability at the time of diagnosis was noted in 3.5% of total patients including children. Lepra reactions treated in referral centre were observed with ratio of 2.75:1 between Type 1 and Type 2. There were no cases of relapse among children

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