CARACTERIZAÇÃO DOS CASOS DE RECIDIVA DE HANSENÍASE DIAGNOSTICADOS ENTRE 1994 E 2010 NO MUNICÍPIO DE RONDONÓPOLIS-MT

Abstract

Introduction: Rondonópolis is a municipality showing high endemicity for leprosy, however, with low relapse rates. No studies that address the causes of maintenance of high detection rates or effectiveness of multidrug therapy. Thus, the revision of data on leprosy diagnosed and all relapses may help in understanding the causes for maintenance of the endemic and improve actions towards control of the disease. Objectives: To characterize the leprosy relapse cases diagnosed between 1994 and 2010 in Rondonópolis-MT, who had been released from treatment. Material and Methods: We selected and evaluated the clinical records of all leprosy patients diagnosed and treated between 2000 and 2008, upon registration in the Health Reference Unit for leprosy of Rondonópolis and in the National Notifiable Disease System (SINAN, Ministry of Health). For the periods between 1994 and 1999, and from 2009 to 2010, we selected only the records of cases that had more than one entry in the system. The records were reviewed for clinical, laboratory and treatment scheme data collection, and these were transcribed to specific forms. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: A total of 1863 records were evaluated (92.6% adults and 7.4% children under age 15 years), mean age was 38 years, 818 individuals had been treated with paucibacillary scheme, 886 with multibacillary and 158 with other therapeutic regimens, also 585 (31.4%) individuals had an episode of type 1 or type 2 reaction. The average bacilloscopic index (IB) of histological sections was 1.62. From the total, 151 individuals showed reactivation of leprosy, 27.1% had been treated with MDT / PB, 20.5% with MDT / MB and 52.3% with other schemes. Twenty four out of 41 individuals who were treated with PB scheme, only 8 were true relapses, 16 reactivated as MB and 17 MB took drugs irregularly. Among 31 individuals treated with MB scheme, 16 relapsed and 8 took drugs irregularly. The real percentage of relapses is 1.28% in the period. Conclusion: Patients showed a low percentage of relapses, probably due to the high efficacy of MDT, however, this was not sufficient to control the disease in the municipality of Rondonópolis. The bacterial persistence may have significant role in the relapse, since one would expect greater number of relapses associated with reinfection in a highly endemic area. Therefore, despite the referral service being well structured, it is not enough to cover the current demand on diagnostic tests for leprosy and evaluation of contacts for disease control.