Caracterização epidemiológica da Leishmaniose tegumentar e visceral no estado de Tocantins, Brasil

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is one of the six priority endemic diseases in the world, and environmental and socioeconomic conditions in its transmission cycle affect the behavior of its vector and reservoirs. This study characterizes the epidemiological profile of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Tocantins, Brazil, from 2009 to 2019. A cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective and qualitative study was undertaken. The sample was limited to the period from 2009 to 2019 and data were collected on the TABNET/DATASUS website and the Health Portal of the Ministry of Health. Once the data were collected and the indices calculated, a descriptive statistical analysis was conducted and results were presented as graphs and tables. A total of 4899 cases of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) and 3128 cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were recorded in the period. The incidence coefficients of ACL and VL were classified as “low” and "high", respectively. Most of the cases occurred in male individuals, especially in the age group of 20-34 years for ACL, and 1-4 years for VL. As regards the area of residence of the affected individuals, the urban area was the most reported. Of the individuals positive for ACL, 94.6% had cutaneous lesions, whereas the most common symptoms in VL cases were fever, weakness and weight loss. Deaths computed by ACL were 0.4% of the affected individuals, and by VL, 5.8%. Leishmaniasis in the state of Tocantins is a serious public health problem and requires special attention from public and civil institutions in the most diverse sectors of society to consistently address this social problem. There is, therefore, a need for intersectoral articulation aiming at the collective co-responsibility of the initiative of the socio-democratic institutions constituted and directed to a broad debate with civil society and private entities so public policies to combat the disease are outlined with a view to consolidating and promoting collective health