Abstract
HTLV is a virus that affects human T-cells. Brazil is the country of the world with the largest absolute number of HTLV cases. Estimates by the Ministry of Health point to 700,000 to 2 million infected Brazilians. The majority are asymptomatic carriers, but some persons may develop degenerative neurological conditions such as tropical spastic paraparesis, in addition to leukemia and lymphoma. The forms of transmission and clinical manifestations such as progressive motor incapacity, genitourinary disorders, in addition to restriction of maternal breastfeeding, impact daily life and can lead to social discrimination and stigma. The stigma denotes violation of social norms and reinforces prejudice and inequalities. This article aims to discuss the concept of stigma and its repercussions on persons living with HTLV. The discussion is based on a literature review on the theme and the authors' experience with care for persons affected by the infection and illness. The study found that both HTLV carrier status and HTLV-related illness can be stigmatizing for individuals, who feel inferior for being infected with a potentially serious and even fatal disease, although incompletely understood and loaded with derogatory stereotypes. This situation can have negative repercussions on access to health services, treatment adherence, and pursuit of rights. Public policies should help mitigate such stigmatization, ensuring the rights of individuals in a situation of vulnerability due to HTLV in order from them to live as protagonists in the exercise of their civil rights.
Highlights
In 1980, Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV)-1 was identified as the first retrovirus associated with cancer in humans 1, described as human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, isolated from a patient with malignant T-cell neoplasia
In 1982, HTLV-2 was isolated, a virus rarely associated with any disease, and in 2005 HTLV-3 and HTLV-4 were isolated from individuals in Africa 2, but they have not been associated with any disease to date
The infection can evolve to severe degenerative neurological conditions and other manifestations, even fatal, such as leukemias and lymphomas, generally 40 to 60 years post-infection 1
Summary
In 1980, HTLV-1 was identified as the first retrovirus associated with cancer in humans 1, described as human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, isolated from a patient with malignant T-cell neoplasia. An estimated 5% of persons infected with HTLV-1 develop health problems related to the virus In these cases, the infection can evolve to severe degenerative neurological conditions and other manifestations, even fatal, such as leukemias and lymphomas, generally 40 to 60 years post-infection 1. It has been possible to identify infected donors and prevent transmission of the virus through blood or blood product transfusions This sexually transmissible infection (STI) is still not part of the list of diseases of compulsory notification in Brazil 9, and serology for the virus is not part of the protocol for prenatal care recommended by the Ministry of Health 10. After reading the titles and abstracts, publications were excluded that did not refer to HTLV, those whose subject was HIV/HTLV-3, in which HTLV only
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