Perfil epidemiológico de uma região endêmica de fluorose no Alto Sertão Paraibano.

Abstract

Fluorine is the thirteenth most abundant element in nature and is present in air, soil and water. Regions where the fluoride concentrations in water are presented extremely high population exposed may develop skeletal changes, also called skeletal fluorosis is characterized by occur when individuals ingest daily water with concentrations above 3.0-3.5 mg / L. This study aims to identify the characteristics of individuals with skeletal fluorosis, showing the main symptomatology and the perception of them about this issue. The study was conducted in the village of Heath Nuns, in Sao Joao do Rio do Peixe-PB. This is an observational, crosssectional, descriptive, exploratory, based on data quantiqualitativos with statistical analysis and comparative and descriptive procedure, and the data collected through a semi-structured questionnaire. For analysis, quantitative information was tabulated with the aid of Statistic Software SPSS for Windows, version 19 and analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics and qualitative analysis through analysis of Bardin, specifically the thematic analysis with the following pre- analysis, coding and categorization. The sample consisted of 27 people, with 85.2% female, 40.7% aged 61 years or more, constituting the majority of older people, 81.4% of the entire sample reported feeling pain legs and 11.1% in the lumbar region. We conclude that the respondents even with insufficient knowledge about the disease, they are aware that too much fluoride can alter the teeth and cause bone changes and seek solution to this problem in the water. It is notable that, despite the fluoride to be beneficial in optimal concentrations, its excess population generates very serious changes. There is still little is known about this disease, a fact that complicates a broader discussion by the absence of reports in the literature. This initiative proposes that greater scrutiny about drinking water, so this is the ideal parameters of fluoride concentration, so as not to cause harm to people. Warning so there is care in the prevention of this disease.