The consequences of the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic on medical education in the fight against leprosy

• Autor(a) principal: Ziembowicz, Henrique
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Souza, Irene, Peruzzo, Jordana Vargas, Subtil, Larissa de Camargo, Onófrio, Lorenzo Garcia, Vaucher, Manoela Badinelli
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por; eng
• Título da fonte: Revista de Epidemiologia e Controle de Infecção
• Texto Completo: https://online.unisc.br/seer/index.php/epidemiologia/article/view/16870
• topic: Doenças Tropicais Negligenciadas; Hanseníase; Erros de Diagnóstico; Educação Médica; Pesquisa sobre Prestação de Cuidados de Saúde

Background and objectives: Leprosy is an infectious disease in which early diagnosis is a decisive factor in preventing impairment and disabilities. This study sought to analyze the panorama of leprosy between 2016 and 2021 in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, revealing the importance of medical education in the context of Neglected Tropical Diseases during the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: Cross-sectional study using the database of the State Health Surveillance Center of Rio Grande do Sul. Data collection included leprosy data in individuals living in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), from 2016 to 2021. The variables analyzed were confirmed cases of leprosy, reported cases, number of cases regarding the operational classifications of leprosy, the therapeutic regimen and the number of cases according to the degrees of physical disability. Results: In the analyzed period, 725 cases of leprosy were confirmed, 70% in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Of the total number of cases, 88% were the multibacillary form of the disease, 50% had some degree of physical disability at the time diagnosis and 80% performed the standard therapeutic regimen. Conclusion: There is a delay in the diagnosis of leprosy and there is underdiagnosis of the disease in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, which highlights the need to reaffirm educational practices on mycobacteriosis.