Desafios vivenciados pelo indivíuo após diagnóstico da hanseníase.

Abstract

Leprosy is an infectious disease with chronic evolution, presenting Mycobacterium leprae as an etiological agent, which is disseminated in the middle through the upper airways, through the airborne salivary droplets, eliminated by the patient, promoting the proliferation of the disease. thereby maintaining the transmission chain. This disease still presents tropism for the skin and peripheral nerves. Although this pathology portrays significant changes regarding its epidemiological data with reduced incidence rate, it is still considered a serious public health problem, since its control represents a challenge to be faced in Brazil and other countries. . Leprosy has a great potential to cause physical disabilities that may even develop into deformities. These disabilities and deformities can cause problems, such as decreased work ability of the individual, limitation of social life and psychological problems. The objective was to analyze the challenges experienced by the individual after diagnosis of leprosy in the city of Cajazeiras-PB. It is a field study, descriptive, exploratory, and documentary, with the qualitative approach. This research was conducted in September and October at the Family Health Units of Cajazeiras, which currently has a total of 23 units, of which 18 correspond to the urban area and 5 to the rural area. The study sample consisted of 15 leprosy patients from 2018 to August 2019. The research data were collected through a semi-structured interview, through a script prepared by the authors, containing objective and subjective questions, which were questioned by the participating researcher, using a portable recorder. The research continued respecting the ethical aspects present in Resolution No. 466/12 of the National Health Council. It was possible to identify in the current study that the main changes that occurred after the diagnosis of the disease were regarding the work that was often affected. due to the manifestation of the disease, as well as the social isolation itself and the limitations of daily activities previously performed by the individual. It was also possible to identify that, regarding the time of the patient's search for health services, after signs of the disease occur after 30 days, which can often delay the diagnosis and early treatment of leprosy, contributing to a more serious impairment. Another issue of great relevance is the role that health professionals and their families play in coping with the disease, as regards encouragement, motivation, guidance and clarification of doubts, especially about the treatment and prevention of physical disabilities. This study can contribute to make the issues related to the negative impacts that leprosy can have on the subject's life be more worked within society, and especially in health services, emphasizing the importance of early case detection, therapeutic follow-up minimizing the physical consequences. resulting from the disease and also the psychosocial compromises of the affected person, added to the social stigma of the pathology that is still so present in society.