Epidemiology
Leprosy affects mainly young adults in their most productive period of life. Leprosy is a leading cause of permanent disability in the world, mainly affecting those countries situated in the tropics. In 2020, 127,558 new cases of leprosy were reported in 139 countries. Almost 7% of these cases were among children under 15 years old and 7198 of new cases had grade 2 disabilities.[6] In 2019, 79% of new cases were reported in India, Brazil, and Indonesia.[1] In the US, approximately 150 people are diagnosed with leprosy each year.[7]
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