The aim of this study is to describe the occurrence of Hansen's disease in children under 15 years of age and to analyse the burden of disease in the same population in Brazil in 2011. This is a descriptive epidemiological study on... more
The aim of this study is to describe the occurrence of Hansen's disease in children under 15 years of age and to analyse the burden of disease in the same population in Brazil in 2011. This is a descriptive epidemiological study on the positive cases of Hansen's disease in minors below 15 years of age notified in Brazil. Data was collected from the Information System on Disease Notification for Hansen's disease cases, and the Brazilian Institute of Geographic Statistics for population data. The study's results showed that 2420 minors with Hansen's Disease in 2011 were distributed in 5565 cities, 692 cities registered the occurrence of 1-10 cases of the disease, a total of 1489 cases (61%); 35 cities showed 15 to 25 cases, 544 (22.5%); and eight cities notified 25 cases or more, totalling 87 cases (16%), therefore, about one third of the Hansen's disease cases in minors under 15 years in Brazil in the year of 2011 are concentrated in 43 Brazilian cities.
Research Interests: Brazil, Adolescent, Medicine, Humans, Child, and 6 moreLeprosy, Female, Male, Infant, Clinical Sciences, and Child preschool
Caracterizar o fluxo de pessoas afetadas pela hanseníase, do município de residência para o de diagnóstico, em área de alta endemicidade no Brasil. Estudo baseado em dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos e Notificação de 2001-2009,... more
Caracterizar o fluxo de pessoas afetadas pela hanseníase, do município de residência para o de diagnóstico, em área de alta endemicidade no Brasil. Estudo baseado em dados do Sistema de Informação de Agravos e Notificação de 2001-2009, nos estados do Maranhão, Pará, Tocantins e Piauí. Dos 373 municípios, 349 (93,6%) tiveram pelo menos um residente afetado pela hanseníase notificado em outro município (4.325 casos, 5,2% dos notificados). Os municípios com maior número de casos notificados fora de sua residência foram Timon (248) e São José de Ribamar (201), no Maranhão. Os municípios que mais receberam casos para diagnóstico foram São Luís (719) e Teresina (516). Destacam-se Goiânia (146) e o Distrito Federal (42) como polos de notificações de casos residentes no agregado, mesmo a mais de 1.000km de distância da área. O fluxo observado indica lacunas na descentralização do processo de atenção integral à pessoa afetada pela hanseníase e chama atenção para as dificuldades e desafios as...
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ABSTRACT Leprosy reactions continue being one of the great challenges for National Leprosy Control Programs in endemic countries. The clinical aspects of reactions are well known, but data on the epidemiology are scanty. This hinders the... more
ABSTRACT Leprosy reactions continue being one of the great challenges for National Leprosy Control Programs in endemic countries. The clinical aspects of reactions are well known, but data on the epidemiology are scanty. This hinders the elaboration of effective control strategies. In this study, factors were characterized which influenced inadequate diagnosis and follow-up of patients with leprosy reactions, as well as the impact of reactions on the development of physical disabilities. The descriptive operational study was done in Rondônia State in 1997, based on newly diagnosed cases and those that received discharge for cure. Data on leprosy reactions were obtained from medical records. Patients with reactions after discharge and progression of disability during treatment were interviewed, and a clinical evaluation was done. In addition, we described the structure of the Leprosy Control Programs in selected municipalities. Our data show that in Rondônia, despite progress in case detection, better availability of multidrug therapy, and reduction of disability grade at diagnosis and discharge from treatment, there continue to be difficulties in the management of leprosy reactions. Thus, it is necessary to define priorities focussing on the management of reactions, as a strategy to improve integrated patient care.