Epidemiological profile and tendency of leprosy in people younger than 15 years. / Perfil epidemiológico e tendência da hanseníase em menores de 15 anos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and tendency of new leprosy cases in people younger than 15 years in the state of Bahia, Brazil, between 2007 and 2017. METHOD: Quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study of cases registered in the Notifiable Diseases Information System. The sociodemographic variables were statistically analyzed through the G-test and trend classification was analyzed through linear regression, along with the tendency or percentage change. RESULTS: The study comprised 2,298 new cases and presented decreasing rate of detection, growing proportion of investigated contacts, and decreasing proportion of healing. Paucibacillary cases are emphasized, with a 63.27% proportion and predominance among females with incomplete primary education and brown race/color living in urban zones. Regarding clinical forms, physical disabilities, and modes of detection, 26.68% were tuberculoid, 73.72% were grade zero, and 36.42% were referral, respectively. CONCLUSION: The increased tendency in the proportion of investigated contacts and the decrease in the proportion of healing revealed a need for the health system to improve patient follow-up during treatment against leprosy.

Perfil epidemiológico e tendência da hanseníase em menores de 15 anos / Perfil epidemiológico y tendencia de la lepra en los menores de 15 años / Epidemiological profile and tendency of leprosy in people younger than 15 years

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar as características epidemiológicas e tendência dos casos novos de hanseníase em menores de 15 anos no estado da Bahia, no Brasil, entre 2007 e 2017. Método Análise quantitativa, transversal e descritiva dos casos registrados no Sistema de Informação de Agravo de Notificação. As variáveis sociodemográficas foram analisadas estatisticamente por meio do teste G, e a classificação das tendências, por meio da regressão linear, juntamente com a tendência ou mudança percentual. Resultados Constituído por 2.298 casos novos, o estudo apresentou taxa de detecção decrescente, proporção de contatos examinados crescente e proporção de cura decrescente. Os casos Paucibacilares se destacaram, com 63,27%, predominando entre pessoas do sexo feminino, com ensino fundamental incompleto, raça/cor parda e com zona de residência urbana. Quanto a forma clínica, incapacidade física e modo de detecção, 26,68% foram tuberculoide, 73,72%, grau 0 e 36,42%, encaminhamento, respectivamente. Conclusão A tendência aumentada na proporção de contatos examinados e a diminuição na proporção de cura revelaram uma necessidade de melhoramento por parte do sistema de saúde no acompanhamento dos pacientes durante o tratamento contra a hanseníase.

RESUMEN Objetivo Evaluar las características y tendencias epidemiológicas de los nuevos casos de lepra en los menores de 15 años en el Estado de Bahia (Brasil) entre 2007 y 2017. Método Estudio cuantitativo, transversal y descriptivo de los casos registrados en el Sistema de Información de Agravamientos de Notificación (Sistema de Informação de Agravo de Notificação). Las variables sociodemográficas se analizaron estadísticamente mediante la prueba G y las tendencias se clasificaron mediante una regresión lineal, junto con la tendencia o el cambio porcentual. Resultados Con 2.298 nuevos casos, el estudio mostró una disminución de la tasa de detección, un aumento de la proporción de contactos examinados y una disminución de la proporción de curaciones. Se destacaron los casos paucibacilares, con un 63,27%, predominando en el sexo femenino, con educación primaria incompleta, raza/color pardo y con zona de residencia urbana. En cuanto a la forma clínica, la discapacidad física y el modo de detección, el 26,68% eran tuberculoides, el 73,72%, grado 0 y el 36,42%, de referencia, respectivamente. Conclusión El aumento de la tendencia en el porcentaje de contactos examinados y la disminución de la proporción de curaciones reveló la necesidad de que el sistema de salud mejore el seguimiento de los pacientes durante el tratamiento contra la lepra.

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and tendency of new leprosy cases in people younger than 15 years in the state of Bahia, Brazil, between 2007 and 2017. Method Quantitative, cross-sectional, descriptive study of cases registered in the Notifiable Diseases Information System. The sociodemographic variables were statistically analyzed through the G-test and trend classification was analyzed through linear regression, along with the tendency or percentage change. Results The study comprised 2,298 new cases and presented decreasing rate of detection, growing proportion of investigated contacts, and decreasing proportion of healing. Paucibacillary cases are emphasized, with a 63.27% proportion and predominance among females with incomplete primary education and brown race/color living in urban zones. Regarding clinical forms, physical disabilities, and modes of detection, 26.68% were tuberculoid, 73.72% were grade zero, and 36.42% were referral, respectively. Conclusion The increased tendency in the proportion of investigated contacts and the decrease in the proportion of healing revealed a need for the health system to improve patient follow-up during treatment against leprosy.