Hanseníase em menores de 15 anos no estado da Paraíba, 2001-2015.

Abstract

Leprosy is a chronic disease and of slow evolution. It affects mainly the adult population. Consequently, the detection of cases in children indicates that the endemy is being maintained and, also, how early a population is being exposed to the Mycobacterium leprae bacillus, requiring attention of the organs and health professionals. The endemicity of the disease can be detected by the coefficient of detection in children under 15 years of age, when the endemicity of the disease is greater than 10 per 100,000 inhabitants and reveals the persistence of bacillus transmission, lack of information about the disease and difficulties of the health programs for control, evidencing the need for a more effective surveillance intervention. This is an ecological study, which had the objective to make an epidemiological investigation through the data system of the Data-SUS in the state of Paraiba on leprosy in children under 15 years of age from 2001 to 2015. The data available in the digital platform of the Information System of Notification Diseases (SINAN) were used for the collection. The results of this research indicate the highest prevalence is among those over 15 years of age. The rate of detection of the disease in the state presented acumalative reduction of 60,3%. Regarding the sex variable, there was no significant difference in prevalence. In the analysis according to the operational classification in all years there was predominance of the paucibacillary classification. Regarding the mode of detection, 84% were by passive detection, translating a passivity of the health services, requiring that specific prevention and control measures for this age group be implemented, so that the transmission of the disease is reduced and eventual which can lead to the life of the individual, especially in childhood.