Doctors find number of leprosy cases in Brazil worrying – 10/01/2023

This month, the SBD (Brazilian Society of Dermatology) is promoting the Purple January campaign, which aims to make the population aware of the stigma and prejudice associated with leprosy.

According to the President of the SBD, Heitor Gonçalves, the initiative is also intended for public authorities, in the sense of drawing attention to the need for more investment in the fight against leprosy, for health professionals, to revive the technical and political debate on this issue of leprosy and for the press so that it is aware of it and becomes an ally of the campaign.

Gonsalves said that the name of the campaign stems from the fact that the color purple indicates creativity, deepening the study of issues, “and above all the struggle against a cause without restrictions and without prejudice. Hence the slogan Purple January, a month to combat prejudice against leprosy.”

Information about the campaign can be obtained from Location from the campaign. World Leprosy Prevention and Control Day is celebrated on the last Sunday in January.

hard

The bacillus that causes leprosy was identified in the 19th century by the Norwegian physician and public health researcher Gerhard Armauer Hansen. At that time, the disease already carried prejudice and isolation and was called leprosy, in a pejorative tone. Because of the researcher’s last name, the disease was called leprosy. Almost 150 years later, health professionals are still promoting awareness campaigns and actions in the media to demystify leprosy.

The head of the leprosy department at the SBD, Egon Daxbacher, told L.L.C Agência Brasil states that the disease is not contagious, as long as preventive and precautionary measures are taken. In the past, patients were isolated and separated from each other.

When noticing symptoms such as spots that are lighter than the skin, or red, that have a change in sensitivity when tested, in addition to a feeling of shock, numbness or tingling in the feet and hands, the person should seek a primary health unit or a dermatologist. This should also be done by family members who live with the patient or who have had long and close contact with him, as they are more likely to contract the disease.

And the dermatologist warned that these symptoms can develop into deformities and lumps when the disease acquires a more advanced form. The demand for treatment is explained in the same way, because if it is not leprosy, it may be another skin disease that needs to be diagnosed.

Early recognition of the disease prevents nerve damage and movement, Daxbacher said. Contrary to popular belief, leprosy is not only found in poor places without basic sanitation, but it can occur in all strata of society. The disease is caused by bacteria leprae It is transmitted to others if not treated. Anyone can be affected.

When already established in a living organism, a change or loss of sensitivity to heat and cold, pain, muscle weakness of the limbs, and even visual impairment are noted.

disturbing picture

The Brazilian Society of Dermatology considers the situation of leprosy in Brazil to be alarming. According to the Ministry of Health’s epidemiological bulletin on leprosy, in 2019, prior to the covid-19 pandemic, 27,864 new cases were reported in the country, accounting for 93% of all records in the Americas region and 13.7% of global figures for the year.

In 2020, a further 127,396 cases were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO), of which 19,195 (15.1%) occurred in the Americas region, with 17,979 cases reported in Brazil, accounting for 93.6% of the number of new cases in the Americas. Brazil, India and Indonesia reported more than 10,000 new cases, equivalent to 74% of the notifications filed in 2020. In the number of leprosy cases, Brazil ranks second in the world, behind only India.

The epidemiological bulletin published this year on the disease, with data for 2021, indicates that Brazil has diagnosed 15,155 new cases of leprosy. For Doctor Egon Daxbacher, these figures show a decrease that could reach 50% in some regions, in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic.

This was actually due to the difficulty of access [ao tratamento]Because of the pandemic “.. when the disease reaches the nerves and impairs movement.

Multiples

“It is a disease that, if diagnosed late, can lead to consequences such as loss of movement and deformities. Anyone who says they have the disease, others are already prejudiced,” the doctor stressed. “But we know that if it is treated properly at the beginning, with a small spot or change in sensitivity, the disease is curable. Sometimes a person does not even have a deformity, but is already seen as a person destined to remain that way.” . “This prejudice has been generated since biblical times.” Daxbacher explained that isolation is not necessary, because about 15 days after starting treatment, the patient stops transmitting the disease.

According to the expert, there is also a natural defense people have against the disease. “It’s not easy to get virus breathing, like flu. We have been successful in fighting these bacteria internally, in our bodies, in most cases. And Daxbacher emphasized that the Purple January campaign aims to keep the memory of the disease active among health professionals, so that when faced with similar cases and symptoms, remember leprosy.

The Department of Continuing Education Development, which also targets other health professionals, particularly family physicians, who are closest to public health in the community, has highlighted that Location It provides guidance and clarifies myths and facts about leprosy, as well as answering questions and providing more information to residents.