Clinical and epidemiological profile of Central-Western region of Brazil leprosy patients

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic bacterial granulomatous disease that affects skin and peripheral nerves and shows slow progression. This study was to trace the epidemiological and clinical profile of leprosy among cases reported in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases in Anápolis, Goiás, Central-West region of Brazil. This is an epidemiological, descriptive and a cross-sectional study. Between January 2011 and December 2016, assistance was provided to 484 patients with leprosy. Among the patients, 59.5% male and the most prevalent age group was between 20-40 years old. Brown population in 47.3% of the cases and 51.7% of the patients completed elementary education. The majority of the cases were multibacillary and Virchowian clinical forms were prevalent, with zero degree of disability detected in 79.56% of the patients. There was no death due to leprosy during the study period. The epidemiological data indicates that a greater integration between the population and primary care must be encouraged, a crucial step for health education and strategies in order to combat the disease.