Seroepidemiologic survey of the household contacts of leprosy patients
AUTOR(ES)
Barbosa, Angela Marques; Silva, Suelen Umbelino da; Toledo, Ana Clara Campagnolo Gonçalves; Abreu, Marilda Aparecida Milanez Morgado de
FONTE
Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO
2022
RESUMO
SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Leprosy is a disabling infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of leprosy among household contacts of leprosy patients. METHODS: This study is a serological survey in household contacts of leprosy patients who had been treated or were undergoing treatment in the city of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2006–2016, using clinical examination and screening for anti- Phenolic glycolipid-I antibodies with Mycobacterium leprae-flow serology. RESULTS: A total of 263 index cases of leprosy were identified during the study period. Of these, 53 were approached, and among their household contacts, 108 were examined. The ML-flow test was positive in 2 (1.85%) individuals, but clinical examination revealed no signs or symptoms of leprosy in them. Therefore, they were considered to have a subclinical infection. Leprosy was not confirmed in any household contacts. In this study, a lower percentage of household contacts, when compared to that in the literature, had a positive Mycobacterium leprae-flow test result. CONCLUSION: The use of Mycobacterium leprae-flow should be encouraged during the follow-up of at-risk populations, such as the household contacts of leprosy patients.
Documentos Relacionados
- Survey to identify Mycobacterium leprae-infected household contacts of patients from prevalent regions of leprosy in Colombia
- Factors associated with seropositivity for APGL-Iamong household contacts of leprosy patients
- Leprosy reactions: the effect of gender and household contacts
- Infection by Mycobacterium leprae of household contacts of lepromatous leprosy patients from a post-elimination leprosy region of Colombia
- Specific antigen serologic tests in leprosy: implications for epidemiological surveillance of leprosy cases and household contacts