Epidemiological characterization and spatial distribution of visceral leishmaniasis cases in Três Lagoas - MS, Brazil in the period of 2007-2021

Alex Martins Machado,Mirian Daiane De Oliveira,Giovanna Bruna De Almeida Carvalho,Juliano Yasuo Oda,João Victor Camargo Caldeira

doi:10.33448/rsd-v10i16.23258

Alex Martins Machado, Mirian Daiane De Oliveira + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v10i16.23258

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Abstract

This retrospective observational cross-sectional study aimed to analyze the distribution of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases in Três Lagoas registered between January 2007 and August 2021, through data processed by the Epidemiological Surveillance Service based on the notification of the National System of Diseases and Notifications. In this period, 231 cases were confirmed, being 137 male (59.3%) and 94 female (40.7%). Was observed a higher prevalence of cases between ages 0-4 years (30.8%), 20-39 (22.5%) and 40-59 (19.9%). Also was observed a higher percentage of infected Caucasian individuals (45.4%) and individuals with low education: elementary school II (22.1%). The most prevalent clinical manifestations were fever (85.3%), splenomegaly (76.6%), weakness (67.1%), weight loss (65.8%) and hepatomegaly (62.8%). It was found that 80.1% of patients received pharmacological treatment, mainly using pentavalent antimonials (56.7%), and that 26 patients (11.3%) died during the period due to complications caused by VL. The spatial analysis showed a homogeneous distribution of VL cases in the city's urban perimeter without predominant regions. Finally, it was observed that the incidence and mortality by VL has been decreasing in recent years, however maintaining high rates of lethality and transmissibility, placing the municipality in the third with the highest transmission rate in the state. In view of these aspects, we conclude that VL is still a serious public health problem in the city and that despite the slight drop in incidence and mortality rates, it still presents values higher than the national average and high dissemination of the disease in the urban area.

Highlights

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector disease that affects humans and other animals, with chronic evolution and systemic involvement that can lead to death
In order to control and treat patients affected by VL in Brazil, all suspected cases need to be notified through a specific form to the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), it will be responsible for the epidemiological investigation of the case (Brazil, 2019; Carvalho et al, 2018; Brazil 2016)
There was a greater predominance between 0-4 years old (30.8%), followed by 20-39 years old (22.5%) in the analysis of the total period, separately, it was observed that the 20-39 age group had a higher proportion of new cases during the period 2017-2021 (34.1%) (Table 1)

Summary

Introduction

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector disease that affects humans and other animals, with chronic evolution and systemic involvement that can lead to death. This disease is considered by the World Health Organization as one of the five neglected diseases, that encouraging its extinction. There are asymptomatic forms of the disease, when patient develops little or no specific symptoms, VL can chronically evolve with high mortality rates when untreated, mainly affecting organs such as the spleen, liver, hemocytopoietic tissue, lungs and kidneys (Souza et al, 2018). In order to control and treat patients affected by VL in Brazil, all suspected cases need to be notified through a specific form to the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), it will be responsible for the epidemiological investigation of the case (Brazil, 2019; Carvalho et al, 2018; Brazil 2016)

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