Análise epidemiológica da hanseníase na microrregião de Goiânia, estado de Goiás

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, transmitted from person to person through prolonged and intimate contact with infected individuals. It can cause deformities and physical disabilities and is considered a public health problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021, 106 countries reported 140,594 new cases of the disease worldwide. The state of Goiás, from 2015 to 2019, showed a high detection rate of between 19.5% and 20.1% per 100,000 inhabitants. The diagnosis of leprosy is fundamental both in the investigation and control of cases of the disease, providing an agile diagnosis and facilitating the determination of the appropriate treatment, thus avoiding complications and interrupting the transmission of the disease. OBJECTIVES:To verify the epidemiological profile of leprosy in the Microregion of Goiânia, state of Goiás, Brazil, from 2018 to 2022. METHODOLOGY: This is an observational, cross-sectional, descriptive epidemiological study of notification forms from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) of patients diagnosed with leprosy (ICD A30) between 2018 and 2022. RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2022, the Goiânia micro-region recorded a total of 2,369 leprosy cases. Notably, 59.10% of these cases affected males in the 40-59 age group. In addition, 44.79% of those affected were illiterate. The predominant clinical form of the disease was multibacillary dimorphic, accounting for 64% of reported cases CONCLUSION: This study looked at the leprosy situation in the Microregion of Goiânia, Goiás, between 2018 and 2022. It identified risk factors, such as gender, age and race, and analyzed the forms of the disease. Continuous research and surveillance are crucial in the fight against this disease.