Perfil epidemiológico da hanseníase em menores de quinze anos de idade, Manaus (AM), 1998-2005

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To describe the epidemiological status of leprosy in children living in a metropolitan area. METHODS:There were studied 474 leprosy cases detected in children under 15 living in the metropolitan area of the city of Manaus, Northern Brazil, between 1998 and 2005. The endemic profi le and quality of care services were assessed based on data from the Notifi able Diseases Information System using epidemiological and operational indicators of the National Leprosy Elimination Program. RESULTS:Of all leprosy cases detected in the period studied, 10.4% were found in children under 15. The detection rates in this age group remained at hyperendemic levels between 1998 and 2003, and decreased from 2004 onwards but keeping on very high endemic levels. The most common clinical form was tuberculoid followed by dimorphous. Paucibacillary forms were seen in 70.7% of the cases. The level of disability at the time of diagnosis was assessed in 94.7% of patients and 2.9% of them had physical disabilities. Most children (99.4%) were treated with the multiple drug regimen recommended by theWorld Health Organization. CONCLUSIONS:Despite its decrease, detection rate of leprosy in children in the city of Manaus remains at a very high endemic level.

Characterization of leprosy in children under 15 years in an important municipality of north-eastern Brazil

“…Similar results are reported by Flach et al 16. Regarding the clinical variables, the findings of this study are in agreement with others, in which the tuberculoid clinical form and the paucibacillary operational classification predominate. Similar results were described in the studies by Lana et al 18 and Imbiriba et al 22 , where 60.9% and 70.7%, respectively, were paucibacillary forms. These findings may reflect questions about the immunity of individuals, the slow evolution of the disease, and the early diagnosis.…”

“…The proportion of patients with some type of physical disability found in this study (7.1%) was lower than the proportion found in the study by Lana et al 18 , in the Jequitinhonha Valley, which corresponded to 18.6%, and similar to that found by Imbiriba et al 22 , in Manaus, where the proportion was 6%.…”

Relato de três casos novos de hanseníase em menores de quinze anos no município de Itaguaí, Rio de Janeiro: evento de alerta para investigação epidemiológica

“…Detection of new cases in this age bracket is, therefore, considered an event alert for active and recent transmission, pointing to the need for epidemiological surveillance activities and immediate investigation to search for the source case. 7,10 In our case, this investigation, consisting of examination of the seven household contacts recorded, led to two other new cases diagnosed in children who, besides having family ties, studied in the same school. The Ministry of Health defines household contact as each and every person who resides or has resided with the Hansen's disease patient in the last five years.…”

Leprosy in minors under 15: incidence and characteristics of reported cases in the State of Pará in the period 2005 to 2013

“…Other studies collaborate with this result by stating that there are no differences according to sex in relation to children, and that these findings show that the disease is not related to genders, but rather to the risk of exposure to the causative agent (Ferreira & Alvarez, 2005;Imbiriba et al, 2008). ForArantes, Garcia, Filipe, Nardi, & Paschoal, (2010), the carelessness that men have with their health can also be considered as a risk factor, since men seek little for medical treatment and routine examinations, unlike women, who in addition to the concern with health, perform examinations periodically, in addition to paying more attention to physical and personal appearance.…”