Immune Dysregulation in Childhood Leprosy.

Leprosy is a chronic infection which is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy has long been considered a complex disease, in which host and environmental characteristics are as important as the pathogen to determine disease outcome. Leprosy is an excellent model for examining the immunoregulatory functions. Children are believed to be the most vulnerable group to leprosy infection due to their immature immunity. This review is aimed to summarize the findings of previous studies about immune dysregulation in childhood leprosy. This study highlighted the plausible maternal-fetal connection which are related in immune dysregulation in childhood leprosy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]