Leprosy in Children with a Focus on the Asian Region: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Abstract Children are often more susceptible to contracting Mycobacterium leprae infection because of their immature immunity as well as their exposure to intrafamily interactions. The percentage of children among newly identified leprosy cases serves as a robust indicator of the ongoing transmission of the disease. Globally, the number of new cases fell by 19.3% between 2013 and 2022. A reduction of over 50% in the incidence of leprosy among children was seen, with rates declining from 10.4 cases per million children in 2013 to 5.1 per million in 2022. Children may exhibit atypical clinical symptoms, and the clinical presentation of leprosy in children can often be misdiagnosed as differential diagnoses such as pityriasis alba, nevus depigmentosus, pityriasis versicolor, among others, contributing to diagnostic difficulties. The cultural stigma surrounding leprosy may also discourage parents from seeking medical help promptly, prolonging the time to diagnosis. Furthermore, health-care systems in some regions may lack adequate training or resources for diagnosing pediatric leprosy. These challenges underscore the importance of increased awareness, early detection, and improved health-care infrastructure to effectively diagnose and treat leprosy in children. Stakeholders must give top priority in policy making and interventions to lower the prevalence of leprosy and its consequences in children and adolescents. The present article is an attempt to review the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic dimensions of childhood leprosy cases in Asia.