Trend of pediatric leprosy in an endemic area in Northeast of Brazil, 2008-2018.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of leprosy in children is an important indicator of the disease's tendency in the general population and suggests intense circulation and transmission of Mycobacterium leprae. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical, epidemiological characteristics and temporal dynamics of leprosy cases in children under 15 years of age from 2008 to 2018 in an endemic municipality. METHODS: A descriptive study with an analytical approach was carried out with data from leprosy cases registered in the Brazilian Information System on Notifiable Diseases for the municipality of Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco, Brazil. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2018, 112 new cases of leprosy were registered. Most cases were classified as paucibacillary leprosy and occurred in children living in urban areas. There was no significant difference in the incidence of leprosy during the study period. Only 4.5% of the sample presented reactional episodes, but a high number of cases were not evaluated for the occurrence of reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show a high incidence of paucibacillary leprosy in children and adolescents, which reveals active transmission in the community and failures in the detection of new multibacillary cases among adults. Children between 10 and 14 years old are more vulnerable to M. leprae infection and mainly develop paucibacillary leprosy.