Unveiling hidden leprosy in underserved populations of the Amazonas state through active case-finding-the Amazon Skin...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology
• Public Health

Background:

• Active case-finding is vital for combating leprosy, particularly early multibacillary forms in endemic areas.
• Initiatives involve epidemiological investigations, community surveys, and awareness campaigns for case identification.
• This study reports new leprosy diagnoses from an active case-finding initiative in Amazonas in 2023.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report new leprosy cases identified through an active case-finding initiative in underserved Amazonian populations.
• To assess the prevalence and characteristics of leprosy in the studied region.
• To highlight the impact of active case-finding on leprosy diagnosis rates.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted during the Amazon Skin Health Program.
• Data included epidemiological and clinical information, slit skin smear, histopathology, and PCR tests for suspected leprosy cases.
• 13,023 individuals were examined across 12 underserved populations.

Main Results:

• 69 new leprosy cases (0.53%) were detected among 13,023 individuals examined.
• 46.38% of cases were paucibacillary and 53.62% were multibacillary.
• 10.1% of cases were in children under 15, and 20.9% had grade II disability, increasing diagnoses by 21.8%.

Conclusions:

• Active case-finding effectively uncovers hidden leprosy cases in endemic areas, enabling early detection.
• Early diagnosis prevents neurological impairment and limits disease transmission.
• The study advocates for public health interventions, dermatologist involvement, and improved health professional training for leprosy diagnosis.