An epidemiological study of leprosy in the municipality of Montes Claros/Minas Gerais in the period 2005 to 2009

• Published in: Motricidade 2012-01, Vol.8 (S2), p.212-212
• Main Authors: Santo, L R E, Teles, L F, Medeiros, I A, Silveira, M F, Cordeiro, S S
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• ISSN: 1646-107X

The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological profile of leprosy patients in the municipality of Montes Claros, in northern Minas Gerais, Brazil and thus to characterize the tendency of this disease and to assess the degree of disability physical prevalent at diagnosis. The sample consisted of 330 diagnosed leprosy patients, living in Montes Claros and reported in Information System for Notifiable Diseases in the years 2005 and 2009 .The study variables were divided into seven categories of analysis: years, sex, age group most affected, the clinical, operational classification, assessment of the degree of physical disability in the diagnosis and treatment regimen. We performed descriptive analysis to compare differences between proportions and distribution and we employed the chi-square. 54.5% of the sample were male and 45.5% female. The prevalent age range was 20 to 49 years and above 50 years. The zero degree of disability was the most frequently found (61.8%). The clinical manifestations were the dimorfa (59.6%), the class was operating the multibacillary (92.4%), with multibacillary multidrug therapy (84.9%). It was concluded that the diagnosis was late, which helps to generate disability.