Nutritional Status and Blood Profile amongst Patient withChildand Maternal Leprosy in Endemic and Non-Endemic Area of Indonesia

Abstract

Leprosy remains endemic in several country, where the disease is still considered as a health burden. The
development of the disease is determined by several factors, amongst which that play significant role are
close household contact and impaired immunity. Maternal index case significantly associated with leprosy
case in children and nutritional status plays a pivotal role in shaping the immune response against the
bacteria Mycobacterium leprae. Thus, this paper aims to evaluatethe association between nutritional status
and leprosy, especially in maternal and child leprosy. The study was conducted in Tuban, Indonesia. We
foundsignificant difference in haemoglobin, red blood cells, and haematocrit levels in subject with maternal
leprosy in the group of child without leprosy and leprous mother compared to the control group. The
difference in haemoglobin and haematocrit level are also associated with child leprosy in the group of child
with leprosy and mother with leprosy.In addition, although no significant association on BMI were observed,
we found that the child whose mother contracted leprosy has a lower BMI compared to the other groups