Occurrence of leprosy in Brazil and the main methods of laboratory diagnosis

Abstract

Leprosy is an infectious, chronic disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This bacillary actinobacterium has affinity with skin and peripheral nerves. It is transmitted through continuous contact with multibacillary people who have not been treated. Leprosy is a major public health concern in developing countries. Brazil ranks second in the prevalence of new cases in the world, with more than 20% of cases having some degree of physical disability already installed. This study aims to identify the occurrence of leprosy in Brazil and show the main laboratory exams, emphasizing the importance of disease control actions and the application of rapid and accurate diagnosis. A literary research was carried out, using articles and dissertations through the Scientific Electronic Library Online (SCIELO), Google Scholar and Virtual Health Library (VHL). The data collection was collected through the website of the Department of Information Technology of SUS (DATASUS) and the Health Portal of SUS. The latest published data show that in 2016, 25,218 new cases of leprosy were detected, with a prevalence rate of 1.10 per 10,000 inhabitants. The diagnosis of leprosy is basically clinical and epidemiological, complemented, if possible, with histopathological and bacilloscopic examination.