Itinerários terapêuticos de pessoas diagnosticadas com hanseníase em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde.

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease and caused by Mycobacterium leprae, transmitted by direct contact with untreated patients or patients with their transmissible forms, the multibacillary cases. It’s a challenge for the Brazilian public health due to the high rate of detection and the disabling potential. Objective: Trace out the therapeutic itinerary of leprosy patients in a basic health unit. Method: Exploratory-descriptive study, of a qualitative nature, developed with 10 patients with the diagnosis of leprosy between 2005 and 2012 who met the following criteria: be over 18 years old, to be following the treatment in the Basic Health Unit and available to participate in the research. The research was carried out in the Basic Health Unit Jardim da Neves, in the city of Bonito de Santa Fé – PB, in August this year after the validation and approval of the research by the Committee of Ethics and Research (CEP) of the Center for Teacher Education (CFP). Results: The results indicate the main symptoms that induced the interviewees to seek therapeutic help were the presence of spots on the body like white spot and then red, numbness, swelling and tingling. The therapeutic itinerary taken by the patients was short, since the most of them was diagnosed with leprosy as soon as they approached the health unit, and immediately started the PQT. However, others had delay in diagnosis, because misunderstandings of the professionals in the identification of the disease or due to the stigma and prejudice around the disease. Conclusion: The average time to diagnosis was short and even those who had late diagnosis, this seems to be associated on the one hand, the lack of training of health professionals in their services for early diagnosis of the disease and on the other hand, the stigma and prejudice associated with leprosy. Therefore is imminent need for a closer look of all professionals working in health care for the minimization of prejudice services through Health Education, enabling better cope with the disease by its sufferers and their reintegration into society.