Leprosy and Physiotherapy: a necessary approach / Hanseníase e Fisioterapia: uma abordagem necessária

INTRODUCTION: New cases of leprosy occur due to a set of factors associated with the lack of knowledge about the disease, both by health professionals and patients, favoring late diagnosis, the development of physical and social disabilities, stigma and prejudice. OBJECTIVE: To verify the knowledge of students completing the physiotherapy course on leprosy and professional practice in the care of patients with the disease. METHODS: A qualitative exploratory descriptive study was conducted with 68 undergraduate students from physiotherapy courses from public and private universities (AU, UB, UC), in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul. Data were collected through a questionnaire with ten open questions about knowledge, practical action, motivations, interests and teaching-learning process about leprosy. To organize and analyze the data, the collective subject discourse technique was used. RESULTS: It was found that 60% of aU students, 63% of UB and 30.8% of UC have a general conception about the disease. 46.7% of aU students, 77.8% of UB and 80.9% of UC never had contact with leprosy patients. More than half of the students at the three universities said they were unaware of the physiotherapy approaches and practices in leprosy. Almost 100% of ub and UC students stated that the subject was not addressed during the course and therefore did not feel prepared to provide health education and to guide on how to prevent physical deficiencies resulting from leprosy. 73.3% of AU students, 96.3% of UB and 100% of UC recorded negative evaluations, qualifying the course as precarious, insufficient and weak in the leprosy approach. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that leprosy should be included in physiotherapy courses systematically, providing practical care activities, developing skills from prevention to rehabilitation, seeking greater motivation and identification of his work in this area.

INTRODUÇÃO: Novos casos de hanseníase ocorrem devido a um conjunto de fatores associados à falta de conhecimento sobre a doença, tanto pelos profissionais de saúde quanto pelos pacientes, favorecendo o diagnóstico tardio, o desenvolvimento de incapacidades físicas e sociais, o estigma e o preconceito. OBJETIVO: Verificar o conhecimento de estudantes concluintes do curso de fisioterapia sobre hanseníase e a prática profissional no cuidado ao paciente com a doença. METODOLOGIA: Realizou-se um estudo descritivo exploratório qualitativo com 68 estudantes de graduação dos cursos de fisioterapia de universidades públicas e privadas (UA, UB, UC), no Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. Os dados foram coletados por meio de questionário com dez perguntas abertas sobre conhecimento, ação prática, motivações, interesses e processo de ensino-aprendizagem sobre a hanseníase. Para organizar e analisar os dados, utilizou-se a técnica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. RESULTADOS: Encontrou-se que 60% dos estudantes de UA, 63% de UB e 30,8% de UC têm concepção geral sobre a doença. 46,7% dos estudantes da UA, 77,8% da UB e 80,9% da UC nunca tiveram contato com pacientes com hanseníase. Mais da metade dos estudantes das três universidades disseram não ter conhecimento das abordagens e práticas fisioterápicas em hanseníase. Quase 100% dos estudantes de UB e UC declararam que o assunto não foi abordado durante o curso e, portanto, não se sentiram preparados para fornecer educação em saúde e para orientar em como prevenir deficiências físicas resultantes da hanseníase. 73,3% dos estudantes da UA, 96,3% da UB e 100% da UC registraram avaliações negativas, qualificando o curso como precário, insuficiente e fraco na abordagem da hanseníase. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que a hanseníase deve ser incluída nos cursos de fisioterapia de forma sistemática, proporcionando atividades práticas de cuidado, desenvolvendo habilidades desde a prevenção até a reabilitação, buscando maior motivação e identificação de seu trabalho nessa área.

Verrucous lepromatous leprosy: a rare form of presentation--report on two cases.

Leprosy skin lesions are described as hypochromic or erythematous macules, pale erythematous or reddish-brown plaques, papules, nodules, and diffuse cutaneous infiltration, depending on the clinical form of the disease. They may be accompanied by hypo or anesthesia, alopecia, and hypo or anhidrosis. Verrucous lesions are now quite uncommon in leprosy. The literature is sparse, with only 25 reported cases of this association, especially in the lepromatous pole of the disease. This work is a report on two cases of lepromatous leprosy of long evolution, coursing with vegetant verrucous lesions.

Verrucous lepromatous leprosy: a rare form of presentation - Report on two cases

Leprosy skin lesions are described as hypochromic or erythematous macules, pale erythematous or reddish-brown plaques, papules, nodules, and diffuse cutaneous infiltration, depending on the clinical form of the disease. They may be accompanied by hypo or anesthesia, alopecia, and hypo or anhidrosis. Verrucous lesions are now quite uncommon in leprosy. The literature is sparse, with only 25 reported cases of this association, especially in the lepromatous pole of the disease. This work is a report on two cases of lepromatous leprosy of long evolution, coursing with vegetant verrucous lesions.

Treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis with intravenous immunoglobulin: a series of three cases.

Stevens-Johnson's syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening dermatoses, that lead to keratinocyte apoptosis induced by interactions between Fas (cell death receptor) and soluble Fas-ligand, present in serum of Stevens-Johnson's syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis patients. Anti-Fas antibodies in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) would block the apoptosis cascade. Three cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis occurred in one male and two female patients, after use of allopurinol, leprosy multidrug therapy concomitant with dipyrone, and diclofenac. The cases were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin 2-3 mg/kg and prednisone 20-50 mg/day. The interruption of new lesions outbreak and reepithelization were extremely fast after the use of intravenous immunoglobulin, without adverse effects. Controlled studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin in Stevens-Johnson's syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis, but the results seem promising.

Treatment of toxic epidermal necrolysis with intravenous immunoglobulin: a series of three cases / Tratamento da necrólise epidérmica tóxica com imunoglobulina endovenosa: uma série de três casos

Stevens-Johnson's syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are life-threatening dermatoses, that lead to keratinocyte apoptosis induced by interactions between Fas (cell death receptor) and soluble Fas-ligand, present in serum of Stevens-Johnson's syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis patients. Anti-Fas antibodies in intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) would block the apoptosis cascade. Three cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis occurred in one male and two female patients, after use of allopurinol, leprosy multidrug therapy concomitant with dipyrone, and diclofenac. The cases were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin 2-3 mg/kg and prednisone 20-50 mg/day. The interruption of new lesions outbreak and reepithelization were extremely fast after the use of intravenous immunoglobulin, without adverse effects. Controlled studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of intravenous immunoglobulin in Stevens-Johnson's syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis, but the results seem promising.

A Síndrome de Stevens-Johnson e a Necrólise Epidérmica Tóxica são dermatoses graves, que levam à apoptose dos queratinócitos induzida pela interação entre Fas (receptor de morte celular) e Fasligante solúvel, presente no soro de pacientes com Síndrome de Stevens-Johnson e Necrólise Epidérmica Tóxica. Anticorpos anti-Fas contidos na imunoglobulina endovenosa podem bloquear esta cascata apoptótica. Três casos de Necrólise Epidérmica Tóxica são descritos, ocorrendo após uso de alopurinol, diclofenaco e poliquimioterapia para hanseníase concomitante com dipirona. Os três casos foram tratados com imunoglobulina endovenosa 2-3 mg/kg, divididos em 4 ou 5 dias e prednisona 20-50 mg/dia. A interrupção no surgimento de novas lesões e a repitelização foram extremamente rápidas, sem ocorrência de efeitos adversos. Estudos controlados são necessários para confirmar a eficácia da imunoglobulina endovenosa na Síndrome de Stevens-Johnson e Necrólise Epidérmica Tóxica, porém, seus resultados parecem ser promissores.

Incapacidade física em hansenianos de Campo Grande - Mato Grosso do Sul / Physical disability in leprosy patients in Campo Grande - Mato Grosso do Sul

Este estudo objetivou verificar a frequência de incapacidade física em casos novos de hanseníase do município de Campo Grande, diagnosticados no período de abril de 2008 a março de 2009, bem como, caracterizar os aspectos clinico-epidemiológicos e sociodemográficos. Entre os 69 casos atendidos no período, mais da metade apresentou algum grau de incapacidade física (59,4%), sendo que 18,8% dos casos foram detectados com GIF II. Há uma concentração de casos na população do sexo masculino (59,4%) e associação entre sexo e grau de incapacidade física II, com GIF II entre os homens de 24,1%, mesmo fato observado com as formas clínicas multibacilares, com 33,3% de virchowianos com GIF II. A proporção de casos na população de até 15 anos foi elevada (10,1%) maior do que encontrada em outros estudos. Observou-se predomínio (84,0%) de pessoas com baixa escolaridade, com no máximo ensino fundamental completo e com renda per capita de até 1,5 salário mínimo. Quanto à distribuição geográfica dos casos, existe no município predomínio nos Distritos Sul e Norte (65,1%). Os achados deste estudo evidenciam que profissionais e gestores de saúde devem incentivar melhorias no diagnóstico precoce, avaliação dos casos, seguimento e serviços de prevenção de incapacidade dos pacientes com hanseníase

This study aimed to determine the frequency of disability in new cases of leprosy in the municipality of Campo Grande, diagnosed in the period of April 2008 to March 2009, and, characterize the clinical, epidemiological and sociodemographic. Among the 69 cases treated in the period, more than half had some degree of physical disability (59, 4%), whereas 18,8% of cases were detected with GIF II. There is a concentration of cases in the male population (59, 4%) and association between gender and degree of physical disability II with GIF II among men of 24, 1% even was observed in the same fact in multibacillary forms, with 33, 3% of lepromatous with GIF II. The proportion of cases in the population up to 15 years was high (10, 1%) higher than that found in other studies. There was predominance (84, 0%) of people with low education, with the most complete basic education, with per capita income of up to 1,5 minimum wages. As the geographical distribution of cases, there is predominance in the city districts in South and North (65, 1%). The findings of this study show that health professionals and managers should encourage improvements in early diagnosis, assessment of cases and follow up services for the prevention of disability of Hansen‘s disease.

Anti-desmoglein-1 antibodies in onchocerciasis, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease suggest a possible etiological link to Fogo selvagem.

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) and the endemic form Fogo Selvagem (FS) are mediated by pathogenic antibodies to the EC1-2 domains of desmoglein-1. There is a preclinical phase with antibodies to only EC5. Based on geographic clustering of cases, FS is thought to have an, as yet unidentified, environmental trigger. In this study we have searched for anti-desmoglein-1 antibodies in sera from parasitic (leishmaniasis, Chagas, and onchocerciasis), and infectious diseases (leprosy and South American (SA) blastomycosis), which are prevalent in the same geographic regions of Brazil as FS. A specific and sensitive desmoglein-1 ELISA detected antibodies in 34 of 41 onchocerciasis (83%), 38 of 88 leishmaniasis (43%), 18 of 31 Chagas disease (58%), 7 of 28 SA blastomycosis (25%), and 14 of 83 leprosy sera (17%). These sera recognized epitopes restricted to the EC5 domain. These findings identify several etiological factors for FS. It is hypothesized that a component of insect vector saliva, rather than the parasite itself may trigger an antibody response to EC-5. In persons with the known HLA susceptibility alleles and living in endemic areas, a response to the EC1-2 domains may subsequently develop by epitope spreading with associated clinical signs of FS.