EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS WITH LEPROSY TREATED AT THE RAUL TRAVASSOS HEALTH CENTER FROM 2014 TO 2024.

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.51572122610062

• Palavras-chave: Leprosy; Epidemiology; Public health

• Keywords: Leprosy; Epidemiology; Public health

• Abstract:

  Leprosy remains a significant public health problem in Brazil, often associated with social vulnerability and delayed diagnosis. The present study aimed to outline the epidemiological profile of patients with leprosy treated at the Raul Travassos Health Center in the municipality of Itaperuna from 2014 to 2024. This is a descriptive, quantitative, retrospective field study conducted through the analysis of 104 medical records of patients diagnosed with leprosy. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were evaluated, such as sex, age, education level, clinical form, operational classification, number of lesions, and degree of physical disability. The results showed an equal distribution between the sexes, a predominance of individuals aged 51 to 70 years, and a higher incidence of the disease among patients with low educational attainment. A predominance of the Virchowian and dimorphic clinical forms was observed, along with a higher frequency of multibacillary cases and patients with multiple lesions at diagnosis, suggesting late diagnosis of the disease. Regarding the degree of physical disability, grade zero predominated both at diagnosis and at discharge, although cases of physical disability were identified between 2022 and 2024. It is concluded that leprosy remains linked to socioeconomic factors and difficulties in accessing information and health services, reinforcing the need to strengthen early diagnosis, health surveillance, and multidisciplinary follow-up—including physical therapy—in the prevention and rehabilitation of disabilities resulting from the disease.