Leprosy in Southern Brazil: a twenty-year epidemiological profile
Abstract INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated leprosy rates in Rio Grande do Sul, an area with a historically low prevalence. However, recent studies are lacking. METHODS: Data extracted from a National Database were analyzed for clinical features and compared to 1980s data. Tendency was assessed...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
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Series: | Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822017000200251&lng=en&tlng=en |
Summary: | Abstract INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated leprosy rates in Rio Grande do Sul, an area with a historically low prevalence. However, recent studies are lacking. METHODS: Data extracted from a National Database were analyzed for clinical features and compared to 1980s data. Tendency was assessed via stationarity analysis. RESULTS: Between 1990 and 2011, 4,770 cases were reported (0.21/10,000 inhabitants; 95% CI = 0.19-0.24). Detection was slightly higher among males, 1.9% cases were among children and most multibacillary (74.7%) at diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Leprosy is controlled in RS, but most cases are multibacillary. Early identification is important to avoid disabilities due to late diagnosis. |
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ISSN: | 1678-9849 |