Hanseníase: estudo epidemiológico e clínico dos casos ocorridos em menores de 15 anos no estado de Alagoas, no período de 1990-2007

Abstract

Hansen s disease is a milenar, contagious disease, with a high frequency of for disability, which is still considered an important public health problem in Brazil. It occurs mainly among adults and, when the occurrence is among under the age of 15 years it represents recent transmission and occult endemia. The objective of this study is to describe the epidemiological and clinical profile of new cases of leprosy among 15 year-old minors notified at the SESAU-AL during the period of 1990-2007. This is a descriptive and sectional study; he data were collected using notification files of the new cases of leprosy under 15 year-old minors during 1990-2007, contained in SINAN s database. The same method was used to collect data of general detection of leprosy, in the same period, to analyze the proportion of leprosy s 15 year-old minor patients. The results of this study indicate that 8.9% of the new cases of leprosy recorded in Alagoas during 1990-2007, occurred among 15 year-old minors. The epidemiological indicator reveals high endemia in this State and hiperendemicity in some municipal districts. Operationally, the discovery of these cases was predominantly by passive demand, the medical examination of the household contacts was also regularly realized. The physical incapacity degree at diagnosis was mostly zero (69.6%) and 3.8% of case present physical incapacity degree was grade II. The occurrence of leprosy cases in this age group represents an epidemiological indicator of great importance, suggesting the need for reassessment of ongoing actions to control the disease.