In this study, 484
leprosy contact children were tested with Dharmendra
lepromin and the early and late responses were recorded. These were followed-up for a period of 10 years. They were compared with
lepromin reaction in 135 children who wereliving in the households where there were no
leprosy cases. All the contacts and non-contacts belonged to villages in the Chingleput Taluk. Amongst contacts, the early
lepromin was positive in 283 and negative in 201. Forty-six contacts developed
leprosy from mostly amongst leproniin positive (Fernandez) reactors' only two-
lepromin negative contacts developed
leprosy. Out of the 46 children who developed
leprosy, there were only two who had a 3 + late
lepromin reaction (Mitsuda). Four contacts who developed
borderline leprosy were negative for late
lepromin reaction (Mitsuda). Amongst 135 non-contacts, only 15 children had a positive early
lepromin respone whereas 90. had a positive late reaction. There was a significant disagreement between the positive earlylepromin response and the late reaction. Late
lepromin reaction may be an index of protective immunity whereas the early reaction, which indicates,
delayed hypersensitivity is not.