PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITY DUE TO LEPROSY TREATED IN THE CITY OF PALMAS - TOCANTINS

Abstract

Theaim of this studyistodescribe the characteristicsofindividuals withphysicaldisabilitiesdue to leprosy,from the dataobtained from theInformation Systemfor NotifiableDiseases(SINAN).The survey covered443patients whowere reported betweenthe years2005and 2010, living inPalmas, Tocantins, whichhad some degree ofphysical disabilityatthe diagnosis or at the dischargeand /or hadexperienced immunological reaction.The profileestablishedin the researchshows thatthepatientsweremostlymale, withhigherfrequencyamong 30 to45 yearsold, andthey weremostlymultibacillaryand hadthedimorphicclinicalform.There werestatistically significant associations(p<0.01)between thedisabilitygradeatdiagnosis andthenumber ofnervesaffected, pointing toasignificantoccurrence oflatediagnosis.It alsowasfound thatthemale gender wasassociated withboth theoperationalclassification(multibacillary) andthe clinical form(dimorphic).It was concludedthat patientswhohavethis profileandare diagnosed latehave higherrisk of developingphysicaldisabilities.Greater attentionto neurologic simplifiedassessment is also recommended,becausenot all patientswere evaluated aboutdisabilityin the end of multidrug therapy

Keywords

• Leprosy
• Statistics on Sequelae and Disability
• E pidemiology