Leprosy in children: a Cuban experience on leprosy control.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Children are believed to be the most vulnerable group to leprosy. Childhood leprosy reflects disease transmission in the community as well as the efficiency of ongoing disease control programmes. In Cuba, leprosy is not a national health problem; however, new childhood leprosy cases are diagnosed every year.

Objective

We summarise the experience of Cuba on childhood leprosy control over the past two decades.

Results

Between 2000 and 2017, a total of 103 children in Cuba have been diagnosed with leprosy, showing that active transmission of cases remains in 13 of 15 provinces of Cuba. The majority of cases were multibacillary (66%), and 34% were paucibacillary cases. Clinically 60% of children have more than five lesions all over their body. Voluntary reporti

SUBMITTER: Ruiz-Fuentes JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6863670 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature