Leprosy among children in an area without primary health care coverage in Caratateua Island, Brazilian Amazon.

Introduction: The detection of leprosy in children is an important epidemiological marker of the disease, indicating the community's early exposure to and active transmission of the infection.

Methods: In order to detect new cases among children by combining clinical evaluation and laboratory tests, we conducted an active case finding among individuals under 15 years old on Caratateua Island, located in the city of Belém, in the Pará state, an endemic region in the Amazon. Dermato-neurological examination, collection of 5 mL of peripheral blood for IgM anti-PGL-I antibody titration, and intradermal scraping for bacilloscopy and amplification of the specific RLEP region by qPCR were performed.