EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF LEPROSY IN CHILDREN UNDER 15 YEARS OF AGE IN THE STATE OF BAHIA, 2015 TO 2024
1
Coordination of Surveillance and Control of Diseases – COAGRAVOS, Health Secretariat of the State of Bahia - SESAB/ Directorate of Epidemiological Surveillance – DIVEP, Salvador, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Leprosy is a chronic, infectious, and transmissible disease, still considered a public health problem in Brazil, despite having treatment available through the Unified Health System (SUS)¹. The country accounts for more than 90% of cases in the Americas². The detection of cases in children under 15 years of age indicates active transmission and failures in interrupting the chain of contagion³. Therefore, understanding the epidemiological profile of this population is essential for planning disease control actions.
METHODS:
This is a descriptive, retrospective study conducted using secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System, through the TABNET/DATASUS tabulator, referring to newly confirmed cases of leprosy in children under 15 years of age, registered in the state of Bahia, from 2015 to 2024. Epidemiological and operational indicators related to detection, physical disability, contacts examined, and case outcomes were analyzed.
RESULTS:
During the analyzed period, 972 new cases of leprosy were recorded in children under 15 years of age. The detection rate of new cases was highest in 2015 (5.62/100,000 inhabitants) and showed a decreasing trend, reaching 1.22/100,000 inhabitants in 2023. There was a predominance of males (51%) and individuals of Black and mixed race/color (82%). Most cases showed no physical disability at diagnosis (75%), but 2% presented Grade 2 disability. A regular classification was observed according to the Ministry of Health parameters in the percentage of evaluated cases, except in 2018 (93%), which was considered good. Indicators related to contacts and cure did not reach satisfactory parameters throughout the historical series.
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite the reduction in the detection rate, the results indicate failures in early diagnosis and contact surveillance, suggesting the persistence of active transmission. It is necessary to strengthen control strategies and improve health planning aimed at children and adolescents, with the goal of eliminating leprosy in the state of Bahia.
Leprosy is a chronic, infectious, and transmissible disease, still considered a public health problem in Brazil, despite having treatment available through the Unified Health System (SUS)¹. The country accounts for more than 90% of cases in the Americas². The detection of cases in children under 15 years of age indicates active transmission and failures in interrupting the chain of contagion³. Therefore, understanding the epidemiological profile of this population is essential for planning disease control actions.
METHODS:
This is a descriptive, retrospective study conducted using secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System, through the TABNET/DATASUS tabulator, referring to newly confirmed cases of leprosy in children under 15 years of age, registered in the state of Bahia, from 2015 to 2024. Epidemiological and operational indicators related to detection, physical disability, contacts examined, and case outcomes were analyzed.
RESULTS:
During the analyzed period, 972 new cases of leprosy were recorded in children under 15 years of age. The detection rate of new cases was highest in 2015 (5.62/100,000 inhabitants) and showed a decreasing trend, reaching 1.22/100,000 inhabitants in 2023. There was a predominance of males (51%) and individuals of Black and mixed race/color (82%). Most cases showed no physical disability at diagnosis (75%), but 2% presented Grade 2 disability. A regular classification was observed according to the Ministry of Health parameters in the percentage of evaluated cases, except in 2018 (93%), which was considered good. Indicators related to contacts and cure did not reach satisfactory parameters throughout the historical series.
CONCLUSIONS:
Despite the reduction in the detection rate, the results indicate failures in early diagnosis and contact surveillance, suggesting the persistence of active transmission. It is necessary to strengthen control strategies and improve health planning aimed at children and adolescents, with the goal of eliminating leprosy in the state of Bahia.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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