Prevalência de hanseníase em pacientes pediátricos em Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, nos anos de 2011 a 2016

Abstract

Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae. It is defined as a chronic condition that causes lesions in the skin, mucous membranes, and nerves, and in advanced stages can also affect other organs. Brazil has recorded continuous decreases in prevalence rates and in the detection of new leprosy cases; however, the North, Northeast, and Central-West regions are still considered the most endemic. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of pediatric leprosy in Aparecida de Goiânia from 2011 to 2016. It is a cross-sectional study conducted between 2011 and 2016 at the Epidemiological Surveillance Department of Aparecida de Goiânia, within the Leprosy and Tuberculosis Coordination sector, in Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás. The study population consists of all children aged 2 to 15 years diagnosed with leprosy and registered by the Epidemiological Surveillance system of Aparecida de Goiânia during the period from 2011 to 2016. Data collection will be carried out through analysis of records in the system and patient medical files archived at the Epidemiological Surveillance Department, taking into account sociodemographic data and the patients’ socioeconomic profiles. Data analysis will be conducted quantitatively, using graphs and tables created in Microsoft Excel. At the end of the study, it is expected to determine the prevalence of pediatric leprosy in Aparecida de Goiânia. The results may contribute to providing data on the disease’s etiology and to the planning of health services and programs related to health promotion and disease prevention.