RESUMEN
Introduction: Childhood leprosy is important marker of thestatus of the ongoing leprosy program, as it is an indicatorof active disease transmission in the community, despite theachievement of the elimination status of leprosy in the year2005. The study was done to evaluate the epidemiological andclinical profile of childhood leprosy and to assess the changingtrends if any in the post-elimination period.Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of newlyregistered patients aged less than 15 years at leprosy outpatientin the department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy,from January 2014 to December 2018 at a GovernmentGeneral Hospital, Vijayawada. Year wise data were analyzedaccording to age, sex, geographic area, clinical spectrum,reaction, deformities, and contacts.Results: During the study period, a total of 481 patients wereregistered, out of which 66 (13.72%) cases of childhoodleprosy was observed. Multibacillary (MB) cases constituteda total of 68.18% while Paucibacillary (PB) constituted a totalof 31.82%. The M: F noted was 1.4:1, urban to rural childrenwere 26 and 40. The majority of the patients were in the agegroup of 11 to 15 years.Conclusion: Rate of increase (doubled) in childhood leprosyis alarming, as an immediate and preventive measure,early diagnosis of childhood leprosy needs to be improved.Further, the importance of complete treatment, follow up,consequences, contact tracing should be stressed on.
RESUMEN
Introduction: Skin diseases are encountered quite commonlyin pediatric age group. There is wide variation in the patternand presentation of different skin conditions in children whencompared to adults. The aim of the present study was to studythe pattern and prevalence of dermatoses in the pediatricpopulation and the various etiologies causing them.Material and methods: This study was conducted in theGovernment General Hospital, Vijayawada. 1000 childrenbelow the age of 14 years presenting with skin diseases wereincluded in the study. Clinical diagnosis was made after athorough clinical evaluation and physical examination.Results: Among 1000 cases, 52.5% were males and femalesconstituted 47.5%. Infectious group of diseases (38.6%)were the most common cause of dermatological diseases inthe childhood followed by infestations (19.1%) and eczemas(12.6%). Hypersensitivity disorders (10.2%), diseases ofthe appendages (5.1%) and pigmentary disorders (4.9%)constituted the other important causes.Conclusion: This study provides a gross idea about the patternof skin diseases in children. The most common etiology in thepresent study belonged to infectious origin. Scabies was themost common disease seen. By providing information aboutthe various causative skin diseases in pediatric population, thisstudy helps in devising preventive measures and managementoptions.