Keywords
Leprosy
Primary health care
Epidemiology
How to Cite
Copyright © | All rights reserved.
The journal holds the exclusive copyright for the publication of this article under the terms of Brazilian law 9610/98.
Partial reproduction
The use of parts of the texts, figures and questionnaire of the article is free, being mandatory the citation of the authors and journal.
Total reproduction
It is expressly prohibited and must be authorized by the journal.
Abstract
Objective: To estimate the underdiagnosis of leprosy in Brazil during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: This is an ecological study. The outcome was the variation in leprosy diagnoses in Brazil in 2020. Demographic and clinical variables were considered. The Z-Score was calculated by comparing the cases diagnosed in 2020 with the average of those diagnosed in the previous five-year period. Results: All Federated Units showed a reduction of about 39% of leprosy cases, with the exception of the Federal District. This drop occurred after March/April, coinciding with the worsening of the Covid-19 pandemic. The variation was greater in populations with lower schooling, age and milder forms of the disease. Collective exams and referrals showed a greater negative variation, corroborating the interruption of prevention campaigns. Conclusion: There was a 39.18% reduction in leprosy diagnoses in the country. The Federal District showed an increase in diagnoses, which can be attributed to campaigns in the pre-Pandemic period.
References
ABDELA SG, et al. Neglecting the effect of Covid-19 on neglected tropical diseases: the Ethiopian perspective. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2020; 114(10): 730–732.
DE MATOS HJ, et al. Leprosy New Case Detection Trends and the Future Effect of Preventive Interventions in Pará State, Brazil: A Modelling Study. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2016; 10 (3).
EHRENBERG JP, et al. Efforts to mitigate the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic: potential entry points for neglected tropical diseases. Infectious diseases of poverty, 2021; 10 (1).
FISCHER M. Leprosy - an overview of clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment. JDDG: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft, 2017; 15(8): 801–827.
FLOSS M, et al. A pandemia de Covid-19 em territórios rurais e remotos: perspectiva de médicas e médicos de família e comunidade sobre a atenção primária à saúde. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 2020; 36 (7).
GLENNIE M, et al. Active case detection methods for crusted scabies and leprosy: A systematic review. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2021; 15(7).
HARZHEIM E, et al. Ações federais para apoio e fortalecimento local no combate ao Covid-19: a Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) no assento do condutor. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 2020; 25 (1): 2493–2497.
HOLLINGSWORTH TD, et al. Evaluating the potential impact of interruptions to neglected tropical disease programmes due to Covid-19. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2021; 115(3): 201–204.
KHUNDI M, et al. Effectiveness of spatially targeted interventions for control of HIV, tuberculosis, leprosy and malaria: a systematic review. BMJ open. 2021;11(7).
LOCKWOOD DNJ, SUNEETHA S. Leprosy: too complex a disease for a simple elimination paradigm. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2005; 83(3): 230.
LOPES FC, et al. Hanseníase no contexto da Estratégia Saúde da Família em cenário endêmico do Maranhão: prevalência e fatores associados. Ciência & Saúde Coletiva, 2021; 26 (5): 1805–1816.
MASCARENHAS JMF, et al. A importância das ações realizadas pelo enfermeiro no controle da hanseníase: revisão integrativa. Revista de Casos e Consultoria. 2021; 12(1):e25619.
MATOS MA. Comportamento governado por regras. Rev Bras Ter Comport Cogn. 2001; 3(2): 51–66.
MATOS TS, et al. Epidemiological, neurofunctional profile and prevalence of factors associated with the occurrence of physical disabilities due to leprosy in a reference center in Northeast Brasil: a sectional study. Rev Assoc Med Bras. 2021; 67(1): 19–25.
NAPIT IB, et al. An individual randomised efficacy trial of autologous blood products, leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF), to promote ulcer healing in leprosy in Nepal: the TABLE trial protocol. Trials, 2021; 22(1): 453.
NIITSUMA ENA, et al. Factors associated with the development of leprosy in contacts: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Revista brasileira de epidemiologia = Brazilian journal of epidemiology, 2021;24: e210039.
PALIT A, KAR HK. Prevention of transmission of leprosy: The current scenario. Indian journal of dermatology, venereology and leprology. 2020; 86(2): 115–123.
PINHEIRO AM, MELLO AGNC. Adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso de pacientes hansenianos: Uma Revisão Integrativa. Research, Society and Development. 2022; 11(3).
PLOEMACHER T, et al. Reservoirs and transmission routes of leprosy; A systematic review. PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2020; 14(4): e0008276.
QIAN MB, et al. Neglected tropical diseases in the People’s Republic of China: progress towards elimination. Infectious diseases of poverty. 2019; 8(1).
RIBES E. Psicología y Salud: Un análisis conceptual, Barcelona: Martínez Roca, 1990; 69-75p.
RUIZ-FUENTES JL, et al. Leprosy in children: a Cuban experience on leprosy control. BMJ Paediatrics Open. 2019; 3(1).
SARAIVA ER, et al. Aspectos relacionados ao diagnóstico e tratamento da hanseníase: uma revisão sistemática. Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde. 2020; 12(12):e4681.
SARTI TD, et al. Qual o papel da Atenção Primária à Saúde diante da pandemia provocada pela Covid-19? Epidemiologia e Serviços de Saúde, 2020; 29(0).
SAUNDERS C, ABEL G. Ecological studies: use with caution. British Journal of General Practice, 2014; 64(619): 65–66.
SECRETARIA DE SAÚDE DO DISTRITO FEDERAL. 2020. Carreata da Hanseníase realiza mais de 1,5 mil atendimentos. Disponível em: https://www.saude.df.gov.br/carreta-da-hanseniase-realiza-mais-de-15-mil-atendimentos. Acesso em: 20 de março de 2022.
SECRETARIA DE SAÚDE DO DISTRITO FEDERAL. 2020. Secretaria de Saúde lança campanha de enfrentamento da hanseníase. Disponível em: https://www.saude.df.gov.br/secretaria-de-saude-lanca-campanha-de-enfrentamento-da-hanseniase. Acesso em: 20 de março de 2022.
SILVA JMS, et al. Atenção às pessoas com hanseníase frente a pandemia da covid-19: uma revisão narrativa. Revista Eletrônica Acervo Saúde. 2021; 13(2):e6124.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. 2020. for implementing mass treatment, active case-finding and population-based surveys for neglected tropical diseases in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic: interim guidance. Disponível em: https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/WHO-2019-nCoV-neglected-tropical-diseases-2020-1. Acessado em: 20 de março de 2022.
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION. 2020. Neglected tropical diseases: impact of Covid-19 and WHO’s response. Disponível em: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-wer9539-461-468. Acessado em: 20 de março de 2022.