Chikungunya fever: a threat to global public health.

Chikungunya fever is an emerging arbovirus infection, representing a serious public health problem. Its etiological agent is the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). Transmission of this virus is mainly vector by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, although transmission by blood transfusions and vertical transmission has also been reported. The disease presents high morbidity caused mainly by the arthralgia and arthritis generated. Cardiovascular and neurological manifestations have also been reported. The severity of the infection seems to be directly associated with the action of the virus, but also with the decompensation of preexisting comorbidities. Currently, there are no therapeutic products neither vaccines licensed to the infection CHIKV control, although several vaccine candidates are being evaluated and human polyvalent immunoglobulins anti-CHIKV had been tested. Antibodies can protect against the infection, but in sub-neutralizing concentrations can augment virus infection and exacerbate disease severity. So, the prevention still depends on the use of personal protection measures and vector control, which are only minimally effective.

Perfil dos pacientes com síndrome do túnel do carpo em afastamento laboral / Profile of patients on sick leave with carpal tunnel syndrome

Objetivo: Demonstrar as características clínicas, epidemiológicas e osfatores de risco associados em pacientes portadores de Síndrome doTúnel do Carpo (STC) que estão em afastamento do trabalho, atendidosno ambulatório de Cirurgia da Mão de um Hospital Universitário. Métodos:Este é um estudo transversal realizado com os pacientes admitidossequencialmente acima de 18 anos de idade, sem distinção de gêneroe raça, no período entre setembro e novembro de 2014. Os pacientesincluídos responderam a um questionário e foram submetidos a examefísico criterioso pelos autores do trabalho. Resultados: Foram admitidos25 pacientes no período de três meses, todos do gênero feminino,com média de idade 50,24 anos (desvio padrão de 10,39). Dentreas profissões desempenhadas a prevalente foi a de serviços gerais/limpeza. A maioria apresentava obesidade, seguido por depressão ehipertensão arterial sistêmica. Aproximadamente metade dos pacientesencontrava-se em afastamento do trabalho. Distúrbios do sono foi umaqueixa comum dentre os entrevistados. Conclusão: A STC é uma causafrequente de afastamento do trabalho e está relacionada à obesidade,dislipidemia e depressão. Nível de Evidência IV, Série de Casos.

Objective: To report clinical and epidemiological characteristicsand risk factors of patients with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome(CTS) on sick leave admitted in a University Hospital.Methods: This is a transversal study conducted with patientsadmitted sequentially over 18 years of age, without distinctionof gender and race in the period between Septemberand November 2014. Patients answered a questionnaire andunderwent physical examination carried out by the authors.Results: Twenty-five patients were admitted within threemonths, all females, the mean age was 50.24 years old (standarddeviation 10,39) . Among the professions they performed,general and cleaning services were the most prevalent.Most patients featured obesity, followed by depression andsystemic arterial hypertension. Approximately half of themwere on sick leave. Sleep disorders were also a frequent complaint.Conclusion: CTS is a frequent cause of sick leave andit is related to obesity, dyslipidemia and depression. Level ofEvidence IV, Series of Cases.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Pap test by women, Northeastern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women related to the Pap test and the association between these behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: A household survey with quantitative approach was conducted. A total of 267 women aged 15 to 69 years, randomly selected in a stratified manner, living in the city of São José de Mipibu, Northeastern Brazil, were interviewed in 2007. A questionnaire consisting of pre-coded open questions was administered and answers were described and analyzed, as for adequacy of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women regarding the Pap test. Tests of association were carried out between sociodemographic characteristics and behaviors studied at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: Although 46.1% of the women interviewed showed adequate knowledge about the Pap test, a significantly higher proportion of adequacy was seen regarding attitudes and practices, 63.3% and 64.4%, respectively. Higher schooling was associated with adequacy of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The main barriers to the Pap test were negligence, non-requesting by their physicians, and shame. CONCLUSIONS: The physician is the main source of information about the Pap test. However, women who more often attend medical visits, despite their good practice, show low adequacy of knowledge and attitudes related to the Pap test, which indicates that they are not receiving appropriate information on the test's purpose, advantages and benefits to women's health.

Conhecimentos, atitudes e prática do exame de Papanicolaou por mulheres, Nordeste do Brasil / Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to Pap test by women, Northeastern Brazil

OBJETIVO: Analisar conhecimentos, atitudes e práticas das mulheres em relação ao exame citológico de Papanicolaou e a associação entre esses comportamentos e características sociodemográficas MÉTODOS: Inquérito domiciliar com abordagem quantitativa. Foram entrevistadas 267 mulheres com idade de 15 a 69 anos, selecionadas de forma estratificada aleatória, residentes no município de São José do Mipibu, RN, em 2007. Utilizou-se questionário com perguntas pré-codificadas e abertas, cujas respostas foram descritas e analisadas quanto à adequação dos conhecimentos, atitudes e prática das mulheres em relação ao exame preventivo de Papanicolaou. Foram realizados testes de associação entre as características sociodemográficas e os comportamentos estudados, com nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Apesar de 46,1% das mulheres entrevistadas terem mostrado conhecimento adequado, proporções de adequação significativamente maiores foram observadas em relação às atitudes e prática quanto ao exame: 63,3% e 64,4%, respectivamente. O maior grau de escolaridade apresentou associação com adequação dos conhecimentos, atitudes e prática, enquanto as principais barreiras para a realização do exame relatadas foram descuido, falta de solicitação do exame pelo médico e vergonha. CONCLUSÕES: O médico é a principal fonte de informação sobre o exame de Papanicolau. Entretanto, mulheres que vão a consultas com maior freqüência, embora apresentem prática mais adequada do exame, possuem baixa adequação de conhecimento e atitude frente ao procedimento, sugerindo que não estejam recebendo as informações adequadas sobre o objetivo do exame, suas vantagens e benefícios para sua saúde.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of women related to the Pap test and the association between these behaviors and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS: A household survey with quantitative approach was conducted. A total of 267 women aged 15 to 69 years, randomly selected in a stratified manner, living in the city of São José de Mipibu, Northeastern Brazil, were interviewed in 2007. A questionnaire consisting of pre-coded open questions was administered and answers were described and analyzed, as for adequacy of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of women regarding the Pap test. Tests of association were carried out between sociodemographic characteristics and behaviors studied at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: Although 46.1% of the women interviewed showed adequate knowledge about the Pap test, a significantly higher proportion of adequacy was seen regarding attitudes and practices, 63.3% and 64.4%, respectively. Higher schooling was associated with adequacy of knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The main barriers to the Pap test were negligence, non-requesting by their physicians, and shame. CONCLUSIONS: The physician is the main source of information about the Pap test. However, women who more often attend medical visits, despite their good practice, show low adequacy of knowledge and attitudes related to the Pap test, which indicates that they are not receiving appropriate information on the test's purpose, advantages and benefits to women's health.