Assessment of quality of life in glaucoma patients in a tertiary care center in Eastern India

Purpose: The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life (QOL) in glaucoma patients and find out the sociodemographic factors predicting QOL. Methods: A cross?sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care center from August 2021 to February 2022. Subjects diagnosed with glaucoma for at least 6 months were enrolled. After taking informed consent, demographic details and detailed history were collected for all patients. Comprehensive eye examination (visual acuity, intraocular pressure, gonioscopy, fundoscopy, visual field assessment, ocular coherence tomogram assessment) was done for all and they were asked to fill the WHOQOL?BREF questionnaire. Data were collected and analyzed using SPSS 21. Results: One hundred and ninety?nine patients were recruited. Mean age of participants was 57.99 ± 10.76 years. Based on various domains and subgroups, QOL values were significant with respect to income (P = 0.016). Gender?wise QOL in females was lower than that of males with respect to all the domains (P = 0.001). While marital status affected both environmental and social domain, literacy affected only the social domain. A variation in intraocular pressure affected the QOL in the psychological domain. QOL was not significantly associated with the severity of the disease. Gender was the most predominant predictor out of all sociodemographic factors. Conclusion: Chronic diseases affect the QOL of individuals in many ways. Glaucoma being a chronic disease hampers patients’ vision irreversibly and by extension the various physical, social, and psychological aspects of the patient’s life as well. Hence, knowledge of the change in QOL it brings about can help plan the treatment, counseling, and management of these patients.

Long-range PCR amplification-based targeted enrichment & next generation sequencing: A cost-effective testing strategy for lysosomal storage disorders

Background & objectives: Lysosomal storage disorders (LSDs) are genetic metabolic disorders which result from deficiency of lysosomal enzymes or defects in other lysosomal components. Molecular genetic testing of LSDs is required for diagnostic confirmation when lysosomal enzyme assays are not available or not feasible to perform, and for the identification of the disease causing genetic variants. The aim of this study was to develop a cost-effective, readily customizable and scalable molecular genetic testing strategy for LSDs. Methods: A testing method was designed based on the in-house creation of selective amplicons through long range PCR amplification for targeted capture and enrichment of different LSD genes of interest, followed by next generation sequencing of pooled samples. Results: In the first phase of the study, standardization and validation of the study protocol were done using 28 samples of affected probands and/or carrier parents (group A) with previously identified variants in seven genes, and in the second phase of the study, 30 samples of enzymatically confirmed or biopsy-proven patients with LSDs and/or their carrier parents who had not undergone any prior mutation analysis (group B) were tested and the sequence variants identified in them through the study method were validated by targeted Sanger sequencing. Interpretation & conclusions: This testing approach was found to be reliable, easily customizable and cost-effective for the molecular genetic evaluation of LSDs. The same strategy may be applicable, especially in resource poor settings, for developing cost-effective multigene panel tests for other conditions with genetic heterogeneity.

Role of calcium &/or vitamin D supplementation in preventing osteoporotic fracture in the elderly: A systematic review & meta-analysis

Background & objectives: Calcium and vitamin D, separately or in combination are usually prescribed to prevent fragility fractures in elderly population. However, there are conflicting results regarding the ideal dosage and overall efficacy obtained from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in the past. The objective of this study was to assess the fracture risk with the administration of calcium or vitamin D alone or in combination in elderly population (>60 yr). Methods: PubMed, Cochrane and Embase databases were searched to identify the studies from inception to February 2021 with keywords, ‘vitamin D’, ‘calcium’ and ‘fracture’ to identify RCTs. The trials with comparing vitamin D, calcium or combination with either no medication or placebo were included for final analyses. The data were extracted and the study quality was assessed by two reviewers. The principal outcome measure was fractures around hip joint and secondary outcomes assessed were vertebral and any other fracture. Results: Eighteen RCTs were considered for the final analysis. Neither calcium nor vitamin D supplementation was associated with risk of fractures around hip joint [risk ratio (RR) 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.91 to 2.69, I2=28%; P=0.11]. In addition, the combined administration of calcium and vitamin D was also not associated with fractures around the hip joint in comparison to either no treatment or placebo. The incidence of vertebral (RR 0.95; 95% CI, 0.82 to 1.10, I2=0%; P=0.49) or any other fracture (RR 0.83; 95% CI 0.65 to 1.06, I2=0%; P=0.14) was not significantly associated with the administration of calcium and vitamin D either individually or in combination. Further subgroup analysis of the results did not vary with the dosage of calcium or vitamin D, dietary calcium intake sex, or serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Interpretation & conclusions: The present meta-analysis of RCTs on calcium, vitamin D or a combination of the two in comparison to no treatment or placebo did not support the routine administration protocol of calcium and vitamin D either alone or in combination to lower the risk of fractures in elderly population.

Comparative Study between General Anesthesia and Spinal Anaesthesia in Paediatric Patients

Introduction: Anaesthesia Comprises of analgesia,unconsciousness, relaxation and suppression of reflexes. Thisstate of Anaesthesia can be achieved either by regional orGeneral Anaesthesia (GA). In G.A all the four parameters arefulfilled, where as in regional Anaesthesia the patient need notbe unconscious. Study aimed to prove the supremacy of spinalanaesthesia to general anaesthesia.Material and methods: A Comparative study was done insixty patients divided into two groups as Group ‘S’ receivedspinal anaesthesia with Butivacaine 0.5%, 0.4mg/kg bodyweight. Group ‘G’ (General Anaesthesia) consisting thirtypatients were given G.A relaxant technique with IPPV.Results: ‘S’ group is hemodynamically more stable in theimmediate post operative period when compared with the ‘G’group. Conscious levels: 100% of S group patients showed nosign of altered consciousness. Where as 9 out of 30 patientsi.e 28% G group patients were drowsy in the immediate postoperative period and needed observation for a longer period.No notable complications like nausea, vomiting, or urinaryretention were noticed in both groups.Conclusion: No complications were noted in both groupspatients were drowsy in ‘G’ group, but all are awake andco-operative in ‘S’ group.It can be concluded that the subarachnoid block is proved to be a better choice for the belowthe umbilical level surgeries in pediatric patients as it is havingno complications and will be accepted by surgical team andparents

Potential applications of lactic acid bacteria and bacteriocins in anti-mycobacterial therapy

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). WHO estimated that 10.4 million new (incident) TB cases worldwide in year 2016. The increased prevalence of drug resistant strains and side effects associated with the current anti-tubercular drugs make the treatment options more complicated. Hence, there are necessities to identify new drug candidates to fight against various sub-populations of M. tuberculosis with less or no toxicity/side effects and shorter treatment duration. Bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) attract attention of researchers because of its 'Generally recognized as safe' status. LAB and its bacteriocins possess an effective antimicrobial activity against various bacteria and fungi. Interestingly bacteriocins such as nisin and lacticin 3147 have shown antimycobacterial activity in vitro. As probiotics, LAB plays a vital role in promoting various health benefits including ability to modulate immune response against various infectious diseases. LAB and its metabolic products activate immune system and thereby limiting the M. tuberculosis pathogenesis. The protein and peptide engineering techniques paved the ways to obtain hybrid bacteriocin derivatives from the known peptide sequence of existing bacteriocin. In this review, we focus on the antimycobacterial property and immunomodulatory role of LAB and its metabolic products. Techniques for large scale synthesis of potential bacteriocin with multifunctional activity and enhanced stability are also discussed.

Maternal and perinatal outcome in antenatal women with hypothyroidism

Background: Oral cancer being one of the most common malignancies in the low-income group in India. It usually presents in an advanced stage limiting treatment options. The mainstays of treatment being surgery and radiotherapy both being lifestyle changing procedures. Aims and objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of life for oral cancer survivors after surgery in comparison with radiotherapy using ICF questionnaire Materials and methods: Oral cancer patients who underwent surgery (25 patients) and Radiotherapy (25 patients) in Stanley medical college for stage 1 and stage 2 lesions of oral carcinoma for past 3 Years (2013-2015) were enrolled. Results: The study showed that surgery as primary therapy provided a better quality of life than radiotherapy alone in the treatment of oral cancer patients. Conclusion: After comparing the results primary surgery for oral malignancy seems to be the treatment of choice as long as the tumor is amenable to surgical resection. Radiotherapy though resulting in a lower quality of life is very efficacious for unresectable tumors.

Maternal and Perinatal Outcome in Twin Gestation in a Referral Hospital at Visakhapatnam

Background: Multiple births have been a subject of great interest to various Scientists such as endocrinologists and geneticists, a source of fascination to some people and a causes concern to obstetrician and pediatricians. Multiple pregnancies are associated with many problems for the obstetrician during ante-natal, intranatal and postnatal periods. For the mother the prognosis is worse than a singleton pregnancy and for the fetus the prognosis is very depressing and it is associated with very high fetal mortality. Aim: To study various factors leading to maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality in multiple fetal gestations. Material and methods: Prospective observational study was carried out on 100 antenatal women with twin gestations who attended Victoria Government Hospital, a referral hospital for women and child at Visakhapatnam from October 2015 to September 2017. Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality and their causes were analyzed. Results: In this study, 73 women (73%) were booked and 27 women (27%) were unbooked. Maternal and perinatal complications were more in unbooked cases. Incidence of preeclampsia was 22%, gestational hypertension cases 10% and eclampsia cases twice more than the singleton pregnancy. Incidence of poly-hydromnios 5%, Anemia was 40%, APH was 1%, pre-term labour – 30%. Gundu Vanaja, Polumuru Usha Devi, D Hemalatha Devi, Usha Prasad, P Durga Kumari, Y Madhuri. Maternal and Perinatal Outcome in Twin Gestation in a Referral Hospital at Visakhapatnam. IAIM, 2017; 4(12): 153-157. Page 154 Intrapatrum and postpartum complications like PROM – 20%, uterine inertia – 6%, cord prolapse – 2%, PPS – 13%, LSCS rate – 40%. Conclusion: Twin gestation is a high risk pregnancy associated with antenatal, intranatal and postnatal complications which cases increased morbidity and mortality of both mother and fetus. Early diagnosis, good antenatal care and treatment of antenatal complications, labor management in the tertiary center, liberal use of C-section also NICU will improve perinatal, maternal outcome.

In vitro antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity against biofilm forming bacteria by the pigment from Desert soil Streptomyces sp D25.

Streptomyces from rare ecosystems is the promising source for secondary metabolites exhibiting diverse biological activities. The present study reports the antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity against biofilm forming bacteria by the pigment produced from Desert soil Streptomyces sp. D25. Crude pigment from the Streptomyces sp D25 was produced by agar surface fermentation using yeast extract malt extract agar and extracted using ethyl acetate. Antioxidant activity of pigment was tested at 100-500μg/ml concentration by DPPH and nitric acid scavenging assay. Antimicrobial activity against the biofilm forming bacteria was tested by disc diffusion method. The Streptomyces pigment showed 35.63% and 96.19% free radical scavenging activity in DPPH assay and nitric oxide assay, respectively. The results of radical scavenging activity of pigment in DPPH and nitric oxide assay showed its antioxidant potential. In antimicrobial assay, the pigment showed 10-20 mm inhibition against biofilm forming bacteria at 25μg/ml. Further in vivo studies on this Streptomyces pigment pave the way for its biomedical applications.

Adequacy of examining one sputum specimen in tuberculosis drug resistance surveys

Objective/background: Collection of one spot and one morning sputum specimen is recom-mended for tuberculosis [TB] drug resistance surveys. This was a retrospective analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures isolated from two spot sputum specimens collected from smear positive TB patients in a TB drug resistance survey. It was conducted to under-stand the value of a second specimen

Methods: A TB drug resistance survey was conducted in the state of Tamil Nadu, India, to estimate the prevalence of drug resistance among new sputum smear-positive [NSP] and previously treated [PT] patients diagnosed in Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program microscopy centers. A total of 2425 patients [1524 NSP and 901 PT cases] were enrolled in the study. From these patients, two spot sputum specimens [C and D] were collected within a period of 2 h. No preservative was added to sputum. The samples were transported at ambient conditions without cold storage to the central laboratory for culture of M. tuberculosis. Culture yield from each sample was computed and analyzed. Results: The proportion of cultures retrieved from C and D specimens among NSP cases [89.3% and 89.7%] and PT cases [90.8% and 90.3%] were similar. The culture grades of C and D samples were comparable [chi-square test, 3560.135; p < .001] and the agreement was moderate [kappa test, 0.454]

Conclusion: The findings of the study reveal the adequacy of single spot sputum specimen from smear positive pulmonary TB patients for bacteriological examination in a quality-assured TB laboratory to determine precisely the level of drug resistance in a province of India

Drug resistance among extrapulmonary TB patients: Six years experience from a supranational reference laboratory.

Background & objectives: There is limited information available about the drug resistance patterns in extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB), especially from high burden countries. This may be due to difficulty in obtaining extrapulmonary specimens and limited facilities for drug susceptibility testing. This study was undertaken to review and report the first and second-line anti-TB drug susceptibility patterns in extrapulmonary specimens received at the National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis (NIRT), Chennai, India, between 2005 and 2012. Methods: Extrapulmonary specimens received from referring hospitals were decontaminated and cultured using standard procedures. Drug susceptibility testing (DST) for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was done by absolute concentration or resistance ratio methods for the first and the second line anti-TB drugs. Results: Between 2005 and 2012, of the 1295 extrapulmonary specimens, 189 grew M. tuberculosis, 37 (19%) cases were multidrug resistant (MDR) while one was extensively drug resistant (XDR). Specimen-wise MDR prevalence was found to be: CSF-10 per cent, urine-6 per cent, fluids and aspirates-27 per cent, pus-23 per cent, lymph nodes-19 per cent. Resistance to isoniazid and ethionamide was found to be high (31 and 38%, respectively). Interpretation & conclusions: Drug resistance including MDR-TB was observed in a significant proportion of extrapulmonary specimens referred for DST. Access to culture and DST for extrapulmonary specimens should be expanded. Guidelines for MDR-TB management should have explicit sections on extra-pulmonary tuberculosis and training on laboratory techniques is urgently required.

Revisiting the susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to ethionamide in solid culture medium.

Background & objectives: Increase in the isolation of drug resistant phenotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis necessitates accuracy in the testing methodology. Critical concentration defining resistance for ethionamide (ETO), needs re-evaluation in accordance with the current scenario. Thus, re-evaluation of conventional minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and proportion sensitivity testing (PST) methods for ETO was done to identify the ideal breakpoint concentration defining resistance. Methods: Isolates of M. tuberculosis (n=235) from new and treated patients were subjected to conventional MIC and PST methods for ETO following standard operating procedures. Results: With breakpoint concentration set at 114 and 156 μg/ml, an increase in specificity was observed whereas sensitivity was high with 80 μg/ml as breakpoint concentration. Errors due to false resistant and susceptible isolates were least at 80 μg/ml concentration. Interpretation & conclusions: Performance parameters at 80 μg/ml breakpoint concentration indicated significant association between PST and MIC methods.

Effect of critical medium components and culture conditions on antitubercular pigment production from novel Streptomyces sp D25 isolated from Thar desert, Rajasthan.

Effect of culture conditions and critical medium components on antitubercular pigment production from novel Streptomyces sp D25 isolated from Thar desert, Rajasthan was investigated. Antitubercular pigment from Streptomyces sp. D25 was produced by Agar Surface Fermentation (ASF) using yeast extract malt extract agar (YEME) as a basal medium. Effect of incubation period, temperature, carbon source, nitrogen source, minerals and sodium chloride concentration was studied by adopting one-variable-at-a-time method. Crude pigment produced under different conditions was extracted solid-liquid extraction method using ethyl acetate. Responses measured include the growth rate, quantity of crude extract and activity against S. aureus MTCC96 and M. tuberculosis H37Rv at 100 μg concentrations. Growth and pigment production was correlated with the bioactivity. Of the various conditions tested, maximum growth, pigmentation and bioactivity was observed on 6th day of incubation. Of the various medium components tested, 1% glucose, fructose and malt extract, pH 7 and 9, temperature 300C and 400C, 0.1% KNo3 and 0 – 5% NaCl was found to influence the growth, bioactive pigment production and antimicrobial bioactivity. Further statistical based optimization is in progress to prove the effect of interaction of the above variables on antitubercular pigment production from Streptomyces sp D25.

Interaction of Elevated CO2 and Moisture Stress on Blackgram Growth and Yield.

An experiment was conducted with blackgram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) cv T-9 in Open top chambers (OTCs) to assess the impact of moisture deficit and its interaction with two levels of CO2 (550ppm and 700ppm) on biomass and seed yield. At flowering stage moisture deficit was imposed by withholding irrigation. Both elevated CO2 levels improved the total biomass and the extent of improvement was 2.7% and 23.5% under irrigated conditions, while 9.0% and 26.1% under moisture stress conditions at 550ppm and 700ppm of CO2 respectively. Higher improvement in seed yield than biomass at both elevated CO2 levels was recorded and under irrigated condition the seed yield improved by 26.3% and 58.9% while under moisture deficit conditions by 9.0% and 34.7% at 550ppm and 700ppm respectively. Though moisture deficit reduced the total biomass, seed yield and HI at all CO2 levels, however the magnitude of reduction was less at elevated CO2 levels. The ameliorative effect of enhanced CO2 concentrations under moisture deficit condition was observed through better pod number in blackgram as compared with ambient control which reflected as higher seed yield.

Identification of Suitable Guar Genotypes for Summer Season of Semi-Arid Region.

Cluster bean (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba (L.) Taub.) is a nitrogen-fixing legume has been used as a green manure, forage and as a seed crop. Guar gum, extracted from the pods of the guar plant, is widely used as an emulsifier, thickener and stabiliser in food and cosmetics. Approximately 23% of the guar seed is the gum (galactomannin). With growing international demand for the guar gum, identification or development of suitable varieties for different agro climatic conditions along with high seed yield and quality gum is the pressing need of the hour. To address these issues five guar varieties were evaluated during summer for their yield potential along with biotic factors. The genotype RGC-1017 performed better for biomass, pod number and seed yield as well as showed resistance to cutworm disease. RGC-986 a long duration variety produced high vegetative biomass with good root and shoot system may serve as a dual purpose variety for fodder and seed.

Correlation and Path Analysis of Seed Yield and Yield Contributing Components of Blackgram (Vigna Mungo L. Hepper) Under Rainfed Condition from Andhra Pradesh, India.

Correlation coefficient and path analysis studies were carried out with seventeen parents (fourteen lines and three testers) resulting 42 F1 crosses for fifteen yield contributing component characters. The phenotypic and genotypic correlation analysis revealed that seed yield was highly significantly and positively correlated with number of branches, number of clusters, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant pod weight, total biomass and also highly significantly and positively correlated among themselves. Path coefficient analysis for seed yield revealed that significant phenotypic and genotypic direct effect with seeds per plant, 100 seed weight, harvest index, pod weight and number of clusters per plant. Hence selection for these characters may be carried out in the field and lab for overall yield improvement in blackgram.

Impact of CO2 Enhancement on Photosynthesis and Protein Profile - Response Studies with a CO2 Responsive Black Gram Genotype.

Black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) var. IC-282009 - a highly CO2 responsive genotype for biomass and seed yield was grown in Open top chambers (OTCs) under three levels of CO2 i.e. ambient (390 ppm) and two elevated levels 550ppm and 700ppm to assess photosynthetic acclimation to elevated CO2. Net photosynthetic rate (PN), change in leaf soluble protein profile and leaf carbohydrate constituents such as total soluble sugars, reducing sugars and starch content in leaves was quantified at all three CO2 concentrations. Photosynthetic rate was enhanced by 78% and 30% at flowering stage with 550ppm and 700ppm CO2 as compared with ambient control. It was also observed a higher accumulation of starch, total soluble sugars and reducing sugars in leaves at elevated CO2 levels. However, the leaf protein content recorded a decrease and altered the profile of ploy peptides with enhanced CO2 levels. At elevated CO2 concentrations significant differences were observed in ploy peptide profile at vegetative and flowering stages, the intensity of 260 kDa poly peptide increased at vegetative stage, whereas 72 kDa polypeptide increased at flowering stage, while 52 kDa poly peptide decreased at both stages. Enhanced CO2 concentrations improved the PN though certain polypeptides of leaf protein are down regulated and necessitate further experimentation to confirm their involvement in responsiveness of the selected black gram genotype.

Exposure to cetyl pyridinium chloride and loss of integrity of cell wall of mycobacteria.

Background: Cetyl pyridinium chloride (CPC) liquefied sputum was shown to reduce AFB smear positivity presumably damaging cell wall of M. tuberculosis. Settings: National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis, Chennai, (Tamil Nadu). Objective: To assess the cell wall damage of mycobacteria in CPC liquefied sputum, by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and mycobacteriophage adsorption studies. Methods: Pooled sputum sample from smear positive pulmonary TB patients was homogenized and liquefied with CPC. It was examined in TEM daily for four days, to assess cell wall damage of M. tuberculosis, and photomicrographs were taken. M. smegmatis mc2155, treated with CPC, was infected with mycobacteriophage (phAE129) to study phage adsorption on cell wall and plaque formation. CPC untreated sputum and M. smegmatis formed controls. Results: Photomicrographs showed that cell wall of M. tuberculosis was intact in controls and damaged in CPC preserved sputum for 96 hours. Plaque formation was seen and absent respectively in CPC untreated and treated M. smegmatis cells. Conclusion: Exposure to CPC damaged the cell wall of M. tuberculosis within 96 hours. Mycobacteriophage failed to form plaques after M. smegmatis mc2155 was treated with CPC implying inhibition of phage adsorption on damaged cell wall and thus providing a clue for poor staining and smear positivity in microscopy.

In silico analysis of phytochemical compounds for optimizing the inhibitors of HMG CoA reductase.

HMGCoA Reductase (HMGCR), a key enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis, catalyzes the conversion of 3- hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) into mevalonate. Thus this enzyme is the target of the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as the statins. Phytoformulation1 is a polyherbal formulation consists of the extracts of plant constituents. The present study was designed to examine the ability of the secondary metabolites of Phytoformulation 1 as an antagonist to HMGCoA reductase enzyme by in silico molecular docking. The docking analysis was carried out by Ligand Fit Accelry’s Discovery studio 2.1, which allows virtual screening of database of compounds and predict the strongest binders based on various scoring functions. Fifteen ligands were docked with HMG CoA reductase receptor, out of which four compounds Dichloroacetic acid 2, 2- dimethylpropyl ester, 1, 6, 10-Dodecatriene-3-ol, 3, 7, 11-trimethyl-[S-(Z)]-, Isopropyl acrylate and 3, 3- Dimethylacryloyl chloride were able to form hydrogen bonds with active site of target protein. Thus it may be concluded that the secondary metabolites of Phytoformulation 1 can be an inhibitor of the HMGCR receptor that could be used to treat hyperlipidemia and further in vivo studies may be carried out to prove the same.

Clinical, bacteriological, and histopathological characteristics of newly detected children with leprosy: A population based study in a defined rural and urban area of Maharashtra, Western India.

Background: Leprosy has been a major public-health problem in many developing countries for centuries. According to the National Leprosy Elimination Programme report of March 2012, there were a total of about 0.13 million cases of leprosy in India, 9.7% of which were children. Numerous studies have investigated child leprosy amongst reported cases however, studies pertaining to proportion and characteristics of undetected childhood cases in the community are very few. Aim: To examine the clinical, bacteriological, and histopathological characteristics of newly detected child leprosy cases in the community. Methods: The population survey conducted from June to September 2007 and the defined rural areas, which included five primary health centers of Panvel Taluka, in Raigad district and urban areas, which included M-east ward of the municipal corporation of greater Mumbai of western Maharashtra, India. Results: House-to-house survey yielded 32 and 37 so far, undetected child cases of leprosy in the rural and urban region, and the prevalence rate was 10.5 and 1.5 per 10,000, respectively. The age of child leprosy cases detected, ranged from 3 to 14 years with a mean of 10.06 ± 3.35 years in the rural and 9.97 ± 3.12 years in the urban area. Most of the cases were paucibacillary (62%). A large proportion of children (49%) had single skin lesion (SSL). Of the 19 SSL cases examined histopathologically, 15 (99%) showed features of borderline tuberculoid, 1 (5%) borderline lepromatous and 3 (16%) had indeterminate type of leprosy. Tuberculoid leprosy was not seen in any, indicating less likelihood of self-healing. Overall, three cases had deformity (grade 1 = 1 and grade 2 = 2) and 31% of multibacillary cases were smear positive. Conclusion: The clinical, bacteriological, and histopathological characteristics of newly detected child cases in the community evidently indicate the grave nature of the problem of undetected child leprosy, recent active transmission, and highlight implications on individual patients and the community. Key Message: Most of the cases were paucibacillary (62%). A large proportion of children (49%) had SSL and (55%) had it on the face followed by arms and leg (27%) and trunk (17%). The mean duration of symptoms exceeded one year which can be attributed to poor knowledge of leprosy or barriers in access to health care or its utilization.