Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Jul 2021)

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 on the diagnoses of Hansen's disease in Brazil

  • Nelson Pereira Marques,
  • Nádia Carolina Teixeira Marques,
  • Iberto Medeiros Cardozo,
  • Daniella Reis Barbosa Martelli,
  • Edson Gomes de Lucena,
  • Eduardo Araújo Oliveira,
  • Hercílio Martelli Júnior

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0251-2021
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 54

Abstract

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Abstract INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the access of patients with Hansen's disease (HD) to care due to changes in routine health services. METHODS: To ascertain this, we compared the number of HD cases diagnosed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The decrease in HD cases in Brazil reached 18,223 (-48.4%), corresponding to an average reduction of 1,518 cases per month during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Therefore, effective measures should be implemented to minimize the damage and the consequent negative health impact of COVID-19 on the care of HD patients.

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