Leprosy in children one year of age and under.

Information obtained from a review of the literature, the United States Armed Forces Institute of Pathology files, and from a correspondence survey revealed a total of 91 infants one year of age and under in whom leprosy was diagnosed. Biopsy confirmation was available on 19 infants, and in an additional 32 patients the diagnosis of leprosy was considered certain even though biopsy confirmation was not obtained. Although the mother was probably the most common source of the infection (29 infants), it was of interest to note that the father, another relative, or an unknown contact was the source of the infection in at least 43% of the infants. The youngest infant was 2-3 months old and had no known familial contact. The role of intrauterine exposure to Mycobacterium leprae, or to antigens of M. leprae, in infection and pathogenesis is discussed. The diagnosis of leprosy in infants under one year may frequently be missed or early signs disregarded because of a mistaken belief that leprosy is exceedingly rare or non-existent in the very young.