Leprosy among schoolchildren in the Amazon region: A cross-sectional study of active search and possible source of infection by contact tracing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The high rate of leprosy cases among children under 15 years of age in Brazil indicates ongoing transmission within the community. The identification of the new leprosy cases among contacts can help identify the source of infection and interrupt the transmission chain. This study aims to determine the detection rate of previously undiagnosed cases of leprosy among schoolchildren who are under 15 years of age living in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, and their possible source of infection by contact tracing.

Methodology/principal findings

This was a school-based, cross-sectional study in which the identification of active leprosy cases was conducted in 277 out of 622 randomly selected public schools in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Suspected cases of leprosy were referred to

SUBMITTER: Pedrosa VL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5860795 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature