Characteristics of pregnant and lactating women with leprosy

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2015 Jan-Feb;48(1):96-8. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0148-2014. Epub 2015 Jan 1.

Abstract

Introduction: The clinical characteristics of women who conceive during leprosy and the association between leprosy and pregnancy are not well known.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 49 pregnant or lactating women diagnosed with leprosy in 2011.

Results: The patients had a clinical dimorphous form of leprosy (44.9%), no physical incapacity at diagnosis (87.5%), and no complications in either the patient or infant (33.4%). In 36.3% of cases, leprosy symptoms were presented in the last trimester of pregnancy, and in 31.9% of patients were in the first trimester of lactation.

Conclusions: The association between leprosy and pregnancy should be routinely investigated, particularly in endemic areas.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Breast Feeding*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lactation
  • Leprosy / complications
  • Leprosy / diagnosis
  • Leprosy / epidemiology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / diagnosis
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology*
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Young Adult