O diagnóstico tardio na perspectiva do itinerário terapêutico: grau 2 de incapacidade física na hanseníase / El diagnóstico tardío desde la perspectiva del itinerario terapéutico: grado 2 de discapacidad física en la enfermedad de Hansen / Late diagnosis under the perspective of therapeutic itineraries: level 2 physical disabilities in Hansen's disease

Destacam-se casos novos de hanseníase com grau de incapacidade física 2 (GIF 2) que demonstram a ineficiente detecção oportuna. O artigo é um relato de casos e propõe analisar o diagnóstico tardio sob a perspectiva do itinerário terapêutico (IT), com base em um estudo qualitativo. O cenário foram dois municípios da Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista: Praia Grande e São Vicente. Realizou-se análise documental e entrevista em profundidade com quatro participantes. O material foi submetido à análise de conteúdo e definiram-se as categorias temáticas: cuidado em saúde; corpo na hanseníase; incapacidades na hanseníase; e diagnóstico tardio. Revelaram-se intrincados itinerários terapêuticos, marcados pela fragilidade do cuidado com erro e atraso no diagnóstico, que potencializaram os riscos individuais e coletivos e impactaram negativamente o cotidiano dos sujeitos. (AU)

Se subrayan casos nuevos de enfermedad de Hansen (lepra) con grado de discapacidad física 2 (GIF 2), que demuestran la ineficiente detección oportuna. El artículo es un relato de casos y propone analizar el diagnóstico tardío bajo la perspectiva del itinerario terapéutico (IT), con base en un estudio cualitativo. El escenario fueron dos municipios de la Región Metropolitana de la Baixada Santista: Praia Grande y São Vicente. Se realizó el análisis documental y entrevista en profundidad con cuatro participantes. El material se sometió a análisis de contenido y se definieron las categorías temáticas: cuidado de salud, cuerpo en la enfermedad de Hansen; discapacidades en la enfermedad de Hansen y diagnóstico tardío. Se revelaron intricados itinerarios terapéuticos, señalados por la fragilidad del cuidado, con error y atraso en el diagnóstico, que potencializaron los riesgos individuales y colectivos e impactaron negativamente el cotidiano de los sujetos. (AU)

There are remarkable numbers of new leprosy cases with 2 (GIF 2) degree of physical disability, demonstrating the inefficient timely detection. This article presents case reports, based on a qualitative study, regarding four patients with Hansen's disease and a GIF 2 level at the time of diagnosis, analyzing the late diagnosis from the perspective of therapeutic itineraries (TI). The cases came from two municipalities in the Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista: Praia Grande and São Vicente. Three men and one woman participated, between 45 and 61 years old. The researcher performed documentary analysis and in-depth interviews. Resulting data was submitted to content analysis and four thematic categories were identified: health care; body in leprosy; disabilities in leprosy; late diagnosis. The results reveal intricate therapeutic itineraries with obstacles for reaching a diagnosis. Lack of information about Hansen's disease and professional inability to diagnose increased both individual and collective risks, in addition to the negative impact on the subjects' daily lives. Thus, a late diagnosis due to the frailty of care strongly concurs to keep Hansen's disease as a stigmatizing and disabling disease. (AU)

Trend of epidemiological indicators of leprosy in an endemic state of the Amazon region / Tendencia de indicadores epidemiológicos de la lepra em el estado endémico de la región amazónica / Tendência dos indicadores epidemiológicos da hanseníase em um estado endêmico da região amazônica

ABSTRACT Objective To characterize the temporal trend of epidemiological indicators of leprosy in the State of Amapá. Method Time series study, carried out in the Notifiable Diseases Information System. The indicators analyzed were: annual detection rate of new cases, detection rate of new cases in the population from 0 to 14 years old, rate of new cases with grade 2 of disability, proportion of new cases with grade 2 and proportion of new multibacillary cases, between 2005 and 2018. The analysis of the temporal evolution was made by linear regression. Results The detection rate of new cases and the rate of children under 15 years showed a decreasing trend. The rate of new cases with grade 2 of disability and the proportion of cases with grade 2 showed oscillation. The proportions of multibacillary remained constant. Conclusion The epidemiological indicators analyzed suggest active transmission and late diagnosis, signaling a possible hidden endemic disease.

RESUMEN Objetivo Caracterizar la tendencia temporal de los indicadores epidemiológicos de la lepra en el Estado de Amapá. Métodos Estudio de series temporales realizado en el Sistema de Información de Enfermedades de Notificación. Los indicadores analizados fueron: tasa de detección anual de nuevos casos, tasa de detección de nuevos casos en la población de 0 a 14 años, tasa de nuevos casos com grado 2 de discapacidad, proporción de nuevos casos con grado 2 y proporción de nuevos casos multibacilares, entre 2005 y 2018. El análisis de la evolución temporal se realizó mediante regresión lineal. Resultados La tasa de detección de nuevos casos y la tasa de niños menores de 15 años mostraron una tendencia decreciente. La tasa de casos nuevos con discapacidad de grado 2 y la proporción de casos con grado 2 mostraron oscilación. Las proporciones de multibacilares se mantuvieron constantes. Conclusión Los indicadores epidemiológicos analizados sugieren transmisión activa y diagnóstico tardío, lo que indica una posible lepra oculta.

RESUMO Objetivo Caracterizar a tendência temporal dos indicadores epidemiológicos da hanseníase no Estado do Amapá. Método Estudo de série temporal, realizado no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação. Os indicadores analisados foram: taxa de detecção anual de casos novos, taxa de detecção de casos novos na população de 0 a 14 anos, taxa de casos novos com grau 2 de incapacidade, proporção de casos novos com grau 2 e proporção de casos novos multibacilares, entre 2005 e 2018. A análise da evolução temporal foi feita por meio de regressão linear. Resultados A taxa de detecção de casos novos e a taxa em menores de 15 anos apresentaram tendência decrescente. A taxa de casos novos com grau 2 de incapacidade e a proporção de casos com grau 2 apresentaram oscilação. As proporções de multibacilares mantiveram-se constantes. Conclusão Os indicadores epidemiológicos analisados sugerem transmissão ativa e diagnóstico tardio, sinalizando uma possível endemia oculta.

Leprosy in New Zealand: an epidemiological update.

AIM: To examine the current epidemiological trends of leprosy in New Zealand and raise awareness of this disease in the health professional community. METHOD: Epidemiological data of leprosy, a notifiable disease in New Zealand, was accessed for the 10 year time period 2004 to 2013. Using an illustrative case as an introduction, all 38 case reports from the study period are summarised. RESULTS: Most cases of leprosy in New Zealand notified during the study period are immigrants from countries with endemic leprosy, reflecting the origin of disease. Delay to diagnosis is common. CONCLUSION: Leprosy remains a clinical problem in New Zealand. Cases are more likely to arise in geographical areas with higher numbers of immigrants from endemic countries.

Control de la lepra y contagionismo en suriman / No disponible

La lepra, aunque actualmente está desapareciendo, no ha sido derrotada todavía en Surinam. En la época colonial fue un gran problema para el gobierno colonial y la población, siendo la mayoría de pacientes (en la época pre-abolicionista) esclavos. En el siglo XVIII se estableció un sistema de control que ya incluía la en la legislación la detección y el confinamiento como métodos importantes. Los médicos holandeses que ejercían en Surinam durante el siglo XVIII y primera mitad del siglo XIX propusieron modelos contagionistas de contención que sugieren que la lepra era causada por una mezcla de factores, siendo la infección uno de ellos. Pero durante la primera mitad del siglo XIX, los investigadores europeos rechazaron mayoritariamente la infección y prevaleció el anti-contagionismo, considerando la herencia y los factores medioambientales como su causa. Al mismo tiempo, en Surinam - puesto que la lepra estaba incontrolada - la lucha contra la lepra se reforzó promulgando leyes implacables para perseguir e identificar a los leprosos. A su vez, Charles Louis Drognat-Landré defendió el punto de vista (tesis Utrecht) de que solamente la infección es la causa de la lepra. Su argumento sobre el contagionismo fue rechazado en Holanda, pero posteriormente publicó sus ideas en francés y así llegaron a ser más conocidas internacionalmente e influyeron en el noruego Hansen. Este descubrió algunos años después el microorganismo causal. Se afirma que hay una relación entre el desarrollo de una forma de contagionismo típico surimanés, un sistema de control de la lepra brutal y la estructura política autocrática, no liberal (hacia los esclavos) de la colonia holandesa de Surinam

Leprosy is nowadays a disappearing but not yet defeated disease in Suriname. In colonial times it was a burden for colonial government and people, the majority of patients (in preabolition times) being slaves. In the 18th century a control system was established, with detection and isolation, anchored in legislation, as major methods. Dutch physicians working in Suriname in the 18th and first half of the 19th century proposed contingent contagionistic models, according to which leprosy was caused by a mixture of factors, infection being one of them. But in the first half of the 19th century European researchers generally denied infection as the cause of leprosy and the paradigm of anti-contagionism prevailed, considering heredity and environmental factors as its cause. At the same time in Suriname - because leprosy appeared uncontrollable - the fight against the disease was reinforced by promulgating more relentless laws to hunt and identify lepers. In line with this, the Suriname born Charles Louis Drognat-Landré defended the view (thesis Utrecht) that infection is the one and only cause of leprosy. His extreme contagionism was sharply rejected in The Netherlands, but then he published his ideas in French and so could reach the international scene and influence the Norwegian Hansen. The latter discovered the culpable micro-organism a few years later. We claim a correlation between the development of a typical Surinamese form of contagionism, the brutal leprosy control system and the autocratic, non-liberal (towards the slaves) political structure of the Dutch colony Suriname

Perfil epidemiológico da hanseníase na microrregião de araçuaí e sua relação com ações de controle / Epidemiological profile of leprosy at the microregion of araçuaí and its relation with actions control

A hanseníase representa um problema de saúde pública no Brasil pelos altos índices de prevalência e incidência. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar a situação epidemiológica da hanseníase e sua relação com o desenvolvimento das ações de controle na microrregião de Araçuaí. Trata-se de estudo epidemiológico, descritivo, cujos dados foram coletados das fichas de notificação de casos de hanseníase de municípios da microrregião, período 1998-2007, disponibilizados no Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação - SINAN. Foram construídos e analisados indicadores epidemiológicos e operacionais preconizados pelo Ministério da Saúde. Foram notificados 343 casos, resultando em uma detecção geral média de 28,5 casos/100.000 habitantes/ano. A proporção de casos detectados com grau II de incapacidade e o predomínio de formas passivas de detecção sugerem diagnóstico tardio e corroboram a importância da integração das ações de controle da hanseníase na atenção básica.

[Status report on public health in Mauritius in 2009]. / Situation et enjeux sanitaires à l'île Maurice en 2009.

Mauritius is an island nation off the coast of Africa in the southwestern Indian Ocean. Improved socio-sanitation conditions over the past years have dramatically decreased the incidence of tropical diseases to levels comparable with those observed in developed countries. Some tropical illnesses including malaria, schistosomiasis, cysticercosis and lymphatic filariasis have been eradicated. Others such as amibiasis, typhoid fever and leprosy have become rare. However, because of the island's geographical proximity to countries with uncontrolled and suboptimal socio-sanitation conditions and its humid subtropical climate, there is a continued risk for certain vector transmitted tropical diseases such as Chikungunya and dengue. In addition, the incidence of HIV infection and AIDS has been rising rapidly since 2004 and tuberculosis remains a public health problem. Better living conditions have also been accompanied by an increase in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases that, along with cancer, are now the main causes of morbidity and mortality.

Busca ativa de hanseníase numa comunidade de trabalhadores rurais em uma usina de cana-de-açucar / Active search for leprosy in a community of rural workers in a plant cane sugar

O município de Jaú/SP possui um bairro onde se concentra a maiorias dos casos de hanseníase, provavelmente pela presença de uma usina de cana-de-açucar que importa mão de obra de Estados hiperendêmicos da doença para plantio e corte. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar campanha para busca ativa de casos de hanseníase nessa comunidade, através de pesquisa de campo exploratória qualitativa e educativa, na forma de campanha para sensibilizar alunos, profissionais de saúde e população, para a problemática da hanseníase. Além dos alunos pesquisadores, das Faculdades Integradas de Jaú, houve o envolvimento de profissionais do Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima, da Fundação Paulista Contra a Hanseníase e da Prefeitura Municipal de Jaú. Os resultados foram expressos em quatro fases, sendo que a primeira foi a de planejamento e preparo da Campanha. Nesta fase oficializaram-se as entidades envolvidas e ocorreu o preparo dos pesquisadores, que consistiu em participar de uma ofocina de educação em hanseníase no Instituto Lauro de Souza Lima. A segunda fase foi a de divulgação da campanha, onde se realizou a sensibilização da população, dos estudadntes e dos profissionais de saúde. Nesse dia, os pesquisadores treinados foram divididos em qutro grupos, e cada qual com seu plano de ação, onde trocaram informações com a população alvo através método de ensino construtivista. Nessa fase, foram abordados aproximadamente 120 indivíduos na praça; 15 contatos de casos; 30 nos alojamentos; 17 profissionais de saúde e 20 alunos de graduação, através de uma abordagem dialógica, participativa e problematizadora, sensibilizando os indivíduos sobre a importância do diagnóstico precoce, e informando que na próxima semana viria uma equipe de saúde no local para identificar alterações na pele ou nos nervos. A terceira fase foi o dia do exame com a equipe especializada. Copareceram para o exame dermatoneurológico 30 indivíduos que identificaram lesões na pele semelhantes as divulgadas, desses, dois casos suspeitos foram encaminhados para exames complementares. A quarta e última fase consistiu na confirmação dos casos suspeitos em unidade especializada. Dois casos foram confirmados posteriormente e 04 contatos avaliados. Foi possível construir uma campanha com resultados satisfatórios e a abordagem através deste métod de ensino/aprendizagem superou as dificuldades observads em campanhas tradicionais. Recomendamos a execução regular desse tipo de campanha em localidades com focos da doença.

New drugs in Brazil: do they meet Brazilian public health needs?

OBJECTIVES: To describe the new drugs marketed in Brazil during the period 2000-2004, compare the description to the country's burden of disease, and suggest initiatives capable of addressing the situation from the perspective of a developing country. METHODS: Records of new drugs were surveyed in an official drug registration database. The new drugs were categorized by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification, indication, and innovation, and compared with the needs of the country's burden of disease. Data on the morbidity and mortality rates of selected diseases (diabetes, Hansen's disease, hypertension, tuberculosis) were retrieved from official documents and the literature. RESULTS: During the period investigated, 109 new drugs were launched. Most were general anti-infectives for systemic use (19), followed by antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (16). The number of new drugs launched in 2004 was roughly one-third that of 2000. Of 65 new drugs, only one-third can be classified as innovative. Most new drugs were intended to treat noninfectious diseases that typically affect developed countries, diseases that constitute only a fraction of the country's challenges. CONCLUSIONS: A mismatch occurs between public health needs and the new drugs launched on the Brazilian market. Not only did the number of new drugs decrease in the study period, but only a few were actually new in therapeutic terms. Developing countries must acquire expertise in research and development to strengthen their capacity to innovate and produce the drugs they need.

New drugs in Brazil: do they meet Brazilian public health needs? / Nuevos medicamentos en Brasil: ¿responden a las necesidades de la salud pública brasileña?

OBJECTIVES: To describe the new drugs marketed in Brazil during the period 2000-2004, compare the description to the country's burden of disease, and suggest initiatives capable of addressing the situation from the perspective of a developing country. METHODS: Records of new drugs were surveyed in an official drug registration database. The new drugs were categorized by Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification, indication, and innovation, and compared with the needs of the country's burden of disease. Data on the morbidity and mortality rates of selected diseases (diabetes, Hansen's disease, hypertension, tuberculosis) were retrieved from official documents and the literature. RESULTS: During the period investigated, 109 new drugs were launched. Most were general anti-infectives for systemic use (19), followed by antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents (16). The number of new drugs launched in 2004 was roughly one-third that of 2000. Of 65 new drugs, only one-third can be classified as innovative. Most new drugs were intended to treat noninfectious diseases that typically affect developed countries, diseases that constitute only a fraction of the country's challenges. CONCLUSIONS: A mismatch occurs between public health needs and the new drugs launched on the Brazilian market. Not only did the number of new drugs decrease in the study period, but only a few were actually new in therapeutic terms. Developing countries must acquire expertise in research and development to strengthen their capacity to innovate and produce the drugs they need.

OBJETIVOS: Describir los nuevos medicamentos lanzados al mercado en Brasil durante el período 2000-2004, comparar su descripción con la carga de enfermedades del país y recomendar iniciativas que permitan enfrentar la situación desde la perspectiva de un país en desarrollo. MÉTODOS: Se buscaron los nuevos medicamentos en una base de datos oficial de registro de medicamentos. Los nuevos medicamentos se categorizaron según la Clasificación Química Anatómico-Terapéutica (ATC), su indicación y su grado de innovación, y se compararon con las necesidades según la carga de enfermedades del país. Los datos de morbilidad y mortalidad de cuatro enfermedades seleccionadas (diabetes, enfermedad de Hansen, hipertensión y tuberculosis) se tomaron de documentos oficiales y de la literatura. RESULTADOS: En el período investigado se lanzaron al mercado 109 nuevos medicamentos. La mayoría eran antibióticos generales de uso sistémico (19), seguidos de antineoplásicos y agentes inmunomoduladores (16). El número de medicamentos nuevos lanzados en 2004 fue aproximadamente una tercera parte de los lanzados en 2000. De 65 nuevos medicamentos, solamente una tercera parte puede considerarse innovadora. La mayoría de los nuevos medicamentos estaban dirigidos a tratar enfermedades no infecciosas que por lo general afectan a los países industrializados y que constituyen una pequeña parte de los problemas que aquejan a Brasil. CONCLUSIONES: No hay correspondencia entre las necesidades de salud pública de Brasil y los nuevos medicamentos lanzados al mercado en ese país. No solamente disminuyó el número de nuevos medicamentos en el período estudiado, sino que solo unos pocos eran realmente nuevos en términos terapéuticos. Los países en desarrollo deben ganar experiencia en investigación y desarrollo para fortalecer su capacidad de innovar y producir los medicamentos que necesitan.

The Participation Scale: measuring a key concept in public health.

PURPOSE: To develop a scale to measure (social) participation for use in rehabilitation, stigma reduction and social integration programmes. METHOD: A scale development study was carried out in Nepal, India and Brazil using standard methods. The instrument was to be based on the Participation domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), be cross-cultural in nature and assess client-perceived participation. Respondents rated their participation in comparison with a "peer", defined as "someone similar to the respondent in all respects except for the disease or disability". RESULTS: An 18-item instrument was developed in seven languages. Crohnbach's alpha was 0.92, intra-tester stability 0.83 and inter-tester reliability 0.80. Discrimination between controls and clients was good at a Participation Score threshold of 12. Responsiveness after a "life change" was according to expectation. CONCLUSIONS: The Participation Scale is reliable and valid to measure client-perceived participation in people affected by leprosy or disability. It is expected to be valid in other (stigmatised) conditions also, but this needs confirmation. The scale allows collection of participation data and impact assessment of interventions to improve social participation. Such data may be compared between clients, interventions and programmes. The scale is suitable for use in institutions, but also at the peripheral level.

La eliminacion de la lepra de las mericas: situacion actual y perspectivas / Eliminating leprosy from the Americas: current situation and future perspectives

Leprosy, a disease that used to be shrouded in darkness and fear, can now be cured thanks to a multidrug treatment schedule with rifampicin, clofazimine, and dapsone which has been in use since 1981. In 1991 the World Health Assembly, encouraged by the efficacy of this treatment regimen, established the goal of eliminating the disease as a public health problem globally and nationally by the year 2000. This goal, which calls for reducing disease prevalence to less than one case per 10 000 inhabitants, should not be confused with the goal of eradicating the disease, which implies a complete interruption of its transmission. Eliminating leprosy is an attainable goal which will depend on the forceful and massive use of the multidrug treatment regimen. This paper describes and discusses the various initiatives that have been launched in Latin America for the purpose of achieving this goal and the results obtained so far. It also explores the factors that impact on the feasibility of eradicating the disease (AU) (AU)

Report of the sixth Meeting of the Scientific Working Group on the Immunology of Leprosy

The sixth meeting of the Scientific Working Group (SWG) on the Immunology of Leprosy (IMMLEP) was opened by Dr. A. O. Lucas, Director of the Special Programme. The meeting was attended by 44 participants from 14 countries and seven members of the WHO Secretariat.