1
|
de Cássia Francisco P, Kliemann BS, Tarlé RG. Leprosy knowledge among primary care physicians in Southern Brazil: are we underdiagnosing? Int J Dermatol 2024. [PMID: 38978163 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.17359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leprosy is a chronic infection with high morbidity in Brazil. Primary care physicians' lack of knowledge about the disease may play a significant role in underdiagnosis. This study aimed to assess primary care physicians' ability to identify typical leprosy skin lesions and their knowledge of the subject. METHODS This cross-sectional study relied on a questionnaire in which participating doctors chose one main diagnostic hypothesis and two differential diagnoses for each skin lesion presented. Five leprosy lesions were included. Questions regarding management, follow-up, and diagnostic workup for the disease were also included. The questionnaire was sent to primary care physicians working in Curitiba, in the Southern Brazilian state of Paraná, and dermatologists, who constituted the control group. RESULTS Thirty-two primary care physicians and 26 dermatologists agreed to participate in the study. Primary care physicians accurately identified a mean of 1.8 ± 1.2 of the five leprosy skin lesions, while dermatologists accurately identified 2.5 ± 0.9 (P = 0.009). The main misdiagnosed leprosy forms were the lepromatous and histoid variants. Among primary care physicians, 56.2% claimed to have little knowledge of the subject and a large share of participants was unaware of recent updates in treating paucibacillary forms, even within the dermatologist subgroup. CONCLUSIONS Primary care physicians in Curitiba have little information regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of leprosy. Even dermatologists had difficulties with treatment and patient management, emphasizing the constant need for education on this subject.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Breno Saty Kliemann
- Department of Dermatology, Santa Casa de Curitiba Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Roberto Gomes Tarlé
- Department of Dermatology, Santa Casa de Curitiba Hospital, Curitiba, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Taal AT, Barreto JG, Santos de Sousa GD, da Rocha AM, Lima Ferreira NN, Menezes da Silva JA, Hinders DC, van Brakel WH, Richardus JH, Blok DJ. The geographical distribution and socioeconomic risk factors of COVID-19, tuberculosis and leprosy in Fortaleza, Brazil. BMC Infect Dis 2023; 23:662. [PMID: 37853318 PMCID: PMC10585722 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08627-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fortaleza (Brazil) is high endemic for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), tuberculosis (TB) and leprosy. These three diseases share respiratory droplets through coughing or sneezing as the main mode of transmission but differ in incubation time, with COVID-19 having a short and leprosy a long incubation time. Consequently, contacts of a patient are at higher risk of infection and developing these diseases. There might be scope for combined preventive measures, but a better understanding of the geographical distribution and relevant socioeconomic risk factors of the three diseases is needed first. This study aims to describe the geographic distribution of COVID-19, TB and leprosy incidence and to identify common socioeconomic risk factors. METHODS The total number of new cases of COVID-19, TB and leprosy, as well as socioeconomic and demographic variables, were retrieved from official registers. The geographical distribution of COVID-19, TB and leprosy rates per neighbourhood was visualised in Quantum GIS, and spatial autocorrelation was measured with Moran's I in GeoDa. A spatial regression model was applied to understand the association between COVID-19, TB, leprosy rates, and socioeconomic factors. RESULTS COVID-19 and TB showed a more homogenous distribution, whereas leprosy is located more in the south and west of Fortaleza. One neighbourhood (Pedras) in the southeast was identified as high endemic for all three diseases. Literacy was a socioeconomic risk factor for all three diseases: a high literacy rate increases the risk of COVID-19, and a low literacy rate (i.e., illiteracy) increases the risk of TB and leprosy. In addition, high income was associated with COVID-19, while low income with TB. CONCLUSIONS Despite the similar mode of transmission, COVID-19, TB and leprosy show a different distribution of cases in Fortaleza. In addition, associated risk factors are related to wealth in COVID-19 and to poverty in TB and leprosy. These findings may support policymakers in developing (partially combined) primary and secondary prevention considering the efficient use of resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A T Taal
- NLR, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - J H Richardus
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - D J Blok
- Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Alrehaili J. Leprosy Classification, Clinical Features, Epidemiology, and Host Immunological Responses: Failure of Eradication in 2023. Cureus 2023; 15:e44767. [PMID: 37809252 PMCID: PMC10557090 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Leprosy is of big concern in the medical fraternity. Leprosy is also known as Hansen's disease. It is a curable communicable disease that remains prevalent in most countries all over the globe. It is a chronic granulomatous infection commonly caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis, which mainly show an effect on the skin and peripheral nerves. To control the disease and minimize the impact of the disease, much effort has been put into it for decades. Nearly 0.2 million fresh cases were documented in 2017 worldwide in spite of being declared "eradicated" by the WHO in the year 2000. However, impressive achievements have been made in several countries, including India; still, we are lagging behind the ultimate goal of the final disappearance of leprosy. Extensive migration is a crucial element that may transmit leprosy to unaffected areas. Additionally, there are several areas in the USA where person-to-person leprosy transmission has been reported without a prior history of exposure. Recently, WHO instigated a new Global Leprosy Strategy 2021-2030, termed "Towards Zero Leprosy." In this article, we review the clinical features, leprosy epidemiology, transmission, classification, host immunological response, and diagnostic challenges.
Collapse
|
4
|
Barbosa CC, Bezerra GSN, Xavier AT, de Albuquerque MDFPM, do Bonfim CV, de Medeiros ZM, de Souza WV. Systematic Review of Survival Analysis in Leprosy Studies-Including the Following Outcomes: Relapse, Impairment of Nerve Function, Reactions and Physical Disability. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:12155. [PMID: 36231457 PMCID: PMC9566694 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Leprosy is a public health problem in South American, African and Oceanian countries. National programs need to be evaluated, and the survival analysis model can aid in the construction of new indicators. The aim of this study was to assess the period of time until the outcomes of interest for patients with or exposed to leprosy by means of survival analysis surveys. This review researched articles using the databases of PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Scielo and BVS published in English and Portuguese. Twenty-eight articles from Brazil, India, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Indonesia were included. The Kaplan-Meier method, which derives the log-rank test, and Cox's proportional hazards regression, which obtains the hazard ratio, were applied. The mean follow-up until the following outcomes were: (I) leprosy (2.3 years) in the population who were exposed to it, (II) relapse (5.9 years), (III) clinical manifestations before, during and after treatment-nerve function impairment (5.2 years), leprosy reactions (4.9 years) and physical disability (8.3 years) in the population of patients with leprosy. Therefore, the use of survival analysis will enable the evaluation of national leprosy programs and assist in the decision-making process to face public health problems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Celivane Cavalcanti Barbosa
- Department of Collective Health, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife 50740-465, Brazil
| | | | - Amanda Tavares Xavier
- Postgraduate Health Sciences, University of Pernambuco, Recife 50100-130, Brazil
- Department of Parasitology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife 50740-465, Brazil
| | | | - Cristine Vieira do Bonfim
- Postgraduate Program in Public Health, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil
- Social Research Division, Joaquim Nabuco Foundation, Ministry of Education, Recife 52171-010, Brazil
| | - Zulma Maria de Medeiros
- Postgraduate Health Sciences, University of Pernambuco, Recife 50100-130, Brazil
- Department of Parasitology, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife 50740-465, Brazil
| | - Wayner Vieira de Souza
- Department of Collective Health, Aggeu Magalhães Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Recife 50740-465, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Sato CM, Rodrigues TDSV, Silva PRDS, Dos Santos ES, Xavier DR, Baptista IMFD, Cortela DDCB, Ignotti E, Ferreira SMB. Social school contacts of multibacillary leprosy cases in children living in the hyperendemic region of the Midwest of Brazil. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2022; 98:431-437. [PMID: 34968418 PMCID: PMC9432267 DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2021.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae detection and the associated factors among social contacts in the school environment of multibacillary cases living in a hyperendemic municipality of the state of Mato Grosso. METHODS Cross-sectional study with 236 social contacts of multibacillary leprosy from public schools and residents in Cuiabá (Mato Grosso) in 2018. The sources of information were interviews and nasal swab tests for molecular analysis by polymerase chain reaction - PCR. For the prevalence ratio estimates, crude and adjusted analyses were performed using robust Poisson regression and their respective confidence intervals (95% CI). The ArcGIS 9.1 software was used for the geographic distribution analyses. RESULTS The prevalence of detection of M. leprae in social contacts was 14%. A total of 63.6% of the schools surveyed had 5.1% to 50% of the social contacts of leprosy with positive PCR. The analysis of the geographic distribution in the neighborhoods showed a high prevalence of infection, being higher than 50% in some localities. The highest proportion of positive results occurred in the northern region of the city and from a precarious socioeconomic class. CONCLUSION The results showed a high prevalence of detection of M. leprae among social contacts in areas with poor socioeconomic conditions. In these regions, there is a greater risk of infection and of getting sick.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camila Massae Sato
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Faculdade de Enfermagem, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | - Diego Ricardo Xavier
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Instituto de Comunicação e Informação Científica e Tecnológica em Saúde, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | | | - Eliane Ignotti
- Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais, Cáceres, MT, Brazil
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ule Belotti NC, Tonelli Nardi SM, Arco Paschoal VD, Martins Montanha JO, Paro Pedro HDS, Gazetta CE. Laboratory diagnosis of leprosy: Two staining methods from bacilloscopy and rapid ml flow test. Int J Mycobacteriol 2021; 10:393-397. [PMID: 34916457 DOI: 10.4103/ijmy.ijmy_206_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The diagnosis of leprosy is based on the characteristic signs and symptoms of the disease, subsidized by laboratory tests. When positive, the bacilloscopy closes the diagnosis for leprosy. Phenolic glycolipid-I, or PGL-I, is a molecule in the bacillus cell wall that confers a greater immune response. The ML Flow test is an immunochromatographic test for the detection of anti-PGL-I IgM in human blood or serum. Methods A prospective study with data collection and biological materials in patients with suspected leprosy from August 2020 to May 2021. For microscopy, intradermal smears were stained with Auramine O, and after reading under a fluorescence microscope, reviewed by Ziehl-Neelsen. The ML flow test was performed according to the Bührer-Sékula protocol. To assess the agreement between the methods, the Kappa index was estimated. Results Of the 94 suspected leprosy patients, 31 (32.9%) were diagnosed with leprosy. There was moderate agreement between the results of the ML Flow and Auramine O tests (Kappa = 0.58) and substantial agreement between the ML Flow and Ziehl-Neelsen microscopy (Kappa = 0.72). In paucibacillary cases, serology was positive in 100% of patients. Conclusions This study concluded that the Ziehl-Neelsen technique remains the best option for standard leprosy staining, and the ML flow test is more positive among the three techniques evaluated and can be an effective tool in the early diagnosis of leprosy cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Claudia Eli Gazetta
- Nursing Department, University of Medicine, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|