Robust contact tracing and screening needed for leprosy control and protection of vulnerable children

Khyathi Reddy  Pilaka; Michael Sukumar  Pallapati; Zakaraiah  Jaladi; Kumar  Ebineshan

doi:10.18502/ijm.v16i5.16808

Khyathi Reddy Pilaka Clinical and Epidemiology Division, LEPRA Society - Blue Peter Public Health and Research Centre (BPHRC), Cherlapally, Hyderabad, India
Michael Sukumar Pallapati Clinical and Epidemiology Division, LEPRA Society - Blue Peter Public Health and Research Centre (BPHRC), Cherlapally, Hyderabad, India
Zakaraiah Jaladi Clinical and Epidemiology Division, LEPRA Society - Blue Peter Public Health and Research Centre (BPHRC), Cherlapally, Hyderabad, India
Kumar Ebineshan Department of Microbiology, LEPRA Society - Blue Peter Public Health and Research Centre (BPHRC), Cherlapally, Hyderabad, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v16i5.16808

Keywords: Leprosy; Mycobacterium leprae; Polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

Leprosy in children is considered as an indicator of active disease transmission in the community. We report about a seven- year-old male from Telangana, India, with anesthetic skin lesions and familial leprosy history. Clinical examination revealed multiple, dry, scaly, hypopigmented, well-defined, raised punched out anesthetic skin lesions all over the body with both ulnar nerves enlarged. On clinical and laboratory examination, the child was diagnosed with borderline-borderline (BB), multibacillary (MB) leprosy, and Type-1 reaction. The child received a weight-adjusted MB multidrug therapy regimen and corticosteroids for type-1 reactions. This case emphasizes the need for contact tracing and screening for early diagnosis of child leprosy to prevent complications like leprosy reactions which are the risk factors for disability.