American cutaneous leishmaniasis: epidemiological profile of patients treated in Londrina from 1998 to 2009

Abstract

BACKGROUND: American cutaneous leishmaniasis is a dermatozoonosis of compulsory notification with relevant morbidity. The disease is considered endemic in northern Paraná. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical, laboratory and epidemiological aspects of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis treated at Clinics Hospital, State University of Londrina, Brazil (Paraná). METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study. The medical records of patients with American cutaneous leishmaniasis treated at the University Hospital of Londrina - Paraná, from 1998 to 2009 were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 470 patients, with prevalence of 8.72 cases / 100,000 inhabitants, participated in the study. Most patients were male, aged 21-40 years, with a single ulcerated lesion as the most common clinical presentation, located mainly in an exposed area of the body. With regard to immunological tests, the Montenegro intradermal reaction was positive in 84.4% of cases. Treatment with pentavalent antimony was well tolerated, and patient follow-up for a year occurred in 59% of cases. CONCLUSION: American cutaneous leishmaniasis is still an endemic disease in the region, with a high potential for morbidity, but with a cure rate of around 95% after treatment. The use of immunological techniques facilitates the diagnosis of clinically suspicious cases.

Keywords

• Endemic diseases
• Epidemiology
• Leishmania
• Skin ulcer