Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Children and Adolescents with Leprosy Admitted Over 16 Years at a Rural Hospital in Ethiopia: A Retrospective Analysis.

AIM: To analyse differences in children and adolescents aged ≤18 years admitted to the leprosy ward in a rural Ethiopian hospital >16 years. METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from leprosy admission registry books on patients with leprosy who were admitted to a referral hospital from September 2000 to September 2016. RESULTS: There were 2129 admissions for leprosy during the study period: 180 (8.4%) patients were s ≤ 18 years old. Of these, 98 (54.4%) were male and 82 (45.6%) were female. The proportion of new diagnoses in children and adolescents was 31.7%, significantly higher than in adults (11.7%; p < 0.001). There were also significant differences in the prevalence of lepromatous ulcers (46.9 vs. 61.7%), leprosy reaction (29.4 vs. 13.0%) and neuritis (16.9 vs.5.3%) between these age groups. CONCLUSIONS: There were more new diagnoses, leprosy reactions and neuritis, and fewer lepromatous ulcers, in children and adolescents compared with adults, with younger patients being referred more frequently to reference centres.

Características epidemiológicas en pacientes ingresados por lepra en un hospital rural de referencia en Etiopía durante 14 años / No disponible

Introducción: El objetivo del estudio fue analizar las características clínico epidemiológicas y evolutivas de los de los pacientes ingresados en una sala de hospitalización específica de la lepra. Métodos: Recogida retrospectiva de datos de pacientes ingresados por lepra usando los libros de registro de admisión desde septiembre 2002 hasta septiembre 2016 en el Hospital General Rural de Gambo. Resultados: Durante el período de estudio hubo 2.134 ingresos en la sala de lepra; de ellos 1.386 (64,9%) fueron hombres, el ratio de admisiones hombres /mujeres fue 1,9. Ciento ochenta pacientes (8,4%) pacientes tenían 18 años o menos. El número de casos nuevos fue 287 (13,4%) frente a los antiguos casos 1.847 (86,6%). Mil setecientos ochenta y cuatro pacientes presentaban lepra multibacilar (83,6%). El principal diagnóstico durante el ingreso fueron úlceras de piel neuropáticas (n=1280; 60%). Otros diagnósticos por orden de frecuencia fueron leprorreacción (n=305; 14,3%) y neuropatía (n=132; 6,2%). La mediana de estancia en el hospital fue 58 días (recorrido intercuartílico: 31-96,5). La mayoría de los pacientes se recuperaron satisfactoriamente al alta 1.822 (84,9%). La mortalidad fue baja 1,7%. Conclusiones: La mayoría de los pacientes eran varones, que ingresaron en el curso de la enfermedad (en tratamiento o antiguos leprosos), la mayoría adultos y principalmente por ulceraciones

Introduction: The objective of the study was to analyze the clinical and evolutionary characteristics of the patients admitted to a specific hospitalization room for leprosy at the Hospital Rural of Gambo .Methods: Retrospective data collection of patients admitted for leprosy using the admission logbooks from September 2002 to September 2016 at the General Rural Hospital of Gambo. Results: During the study period, there were 2,134 admissions in the leprosy ward; there were 1,386 (64.9%) men, the ratio of admissions for men / women was 1.9. One hundred and eighty patients (8.4%) were 18 years or younger. The number of new cases was 287 (13.4%) compared to the old cases, 1,847 (86.6%). One thousand seven hundred and eighty four patients presented multibacillary leprosy (83.6%). The main diagnosis during admission was neuropathic skin ulcers (n = 1280; 60%). Other diagnoses in order of frequency were leprosy reactions (n = 305, 14.3%) and neuropathy (n = 132, 6.2%). The median hospital stay was 58 days (interquartile range: 31-96.5). The majority of the patients recovered satisfactorily at the 1822 discharge (84.9%). Mortality was low 1.7%. Conclusions: The majority of the patients were men, who entered the course of the disease (in treatment or old lepers), most of them adults and mainly ulcerations