Childhood leprosy in northern India.

During a period of eight years, 132 new leprosy cases were detected in children ages 3 to 19 years. Borderline tuberculoid leprosy was present in 59%, tuberculoid in 7.6%, and indeterminate type in 3.8% patients. Single skin lesions were seen in a significant number (43.9%) of patients. Bacillus-positive disease was detected more often (17.4%) than in adults. A high frequency (66.6%) of nerve involvement was also detected. Deformities were uncommon. Males were more often affected than females, especially in the ages 10 to 14 and 15 to 19 years. A history of contact was available in only 19.7% patients, and the contact was intrafamilial in 84.6%.