HANSENÍASE EM MENORES DE 15 ANOS DE IDADE NO ESTADO DO MARANHÃO: padrão clínico, epidemiológico e ambiental

Abstract

Leprosy remains an important and complex public health problem in Maranhão. The presence of leprosy in children under 15 years of age is used as a transmission level indicator of disease. The objective of this work is to characterize clinical- epidemiologic and environmental patterns of leprosy cases in children under 15 years at the age distribution diagnosed of Maranhão State in the period 1994 to 2008. Was conducted an ecological epidemiological study, based on database SINAN which were obtained 6709 cases. Mainly males (54%); the age group 10 to 14 years (70.80%), the indeterminate clinical form 32%, to operational classification paucibacillary (63%). In evaluation of degree of disability, degree zero was more frequent in the diagnosis and 73.0% in the discharge by cure 37.5%. The diagnostic mode by spontaneous demand were responsible by 58.07%, the discharge by cure 85,18%. The detection rates ranged from very high (6.64 per 100,000) to hyperendemic (19.72/100,000 inhabitants). The watersheds of Gurupi and Tocantins, humid climate geographic area, had higher coefficients. The west midland region had the highest detection (30.11 per 100.000 inhabitants) and higher temperature (27.5ºC). The results demonstrate the maintenance of the endemic state, showing weakness in the control actions developed in health services and the need to implement prevention and control measures specific to the population under 15 years.