Clinical Neurological Profie of Patients with Leprosy in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil

Authors

  • Moacir Pereira Leite Neto Master's degree student of the Faculty of Medicine of ABC; Professor of neurology at the Federal University of Cariri, Ce-Brazil.
  • Francisco Marcos Bezerra da Cunha
  • Cláudio Gleidiston Lima e Silva Professor of neurology at the Federal University of Cariri, Ce-Brazil.
  • Luiz Carlos de Abreu Design and Scientific Writing at the Faculty of Medicine of ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.
  • Italla Maria Pinheiro Bezerra Laboratory of Design and Scientific Writing. Basic Sciences Department, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC
  • David Feder
  • Fernando Luiz Afonso Fonseca Professor of Course of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Management Environmental Health at the Faculty of Medicine of ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3823/1817

Keywords:

Leprosy, nervous system, pretreatment neurological

Abstract

Introduction:

Leprosy, still considered a public health problem in many countries, among them Brazil, causes multiple sensory and/or motor signs and symptoms of the peripheral nervous system (SMSSPNS). This study aimed to analyze a pretreatment neurological profile of patients with leprosy.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study, whose participants 400 patients diagnosed with leprosy. Data collection took place through the collection from medical records and clinical examination of patients. It determined the frequency distribution of SMSSPNS, thickening of the nerves and committed peripheral nerves (PNC) as well as the sex and the average age.

Results:

Over 93% of the patients presented at least 1 (one) sensory symptom, and hypoesthesia was the most prevalent among them. 59% displayed motor dysfunction and a 50.25% rate of neural thickening. Hypoesthesia had a higher prevalence among individuals whose symptoms appeared more than 12 (twelve) months ago (58.86%, p = 0.018), and there was no association between other SMSSPNS and the disease’s time of onset; or between SMSSPNS and CPN, according to the leprosy forms. The most affected nerve is the sensory-motor ulnar (57.48%).

Conclusion:                                                  

The most frequent alterations were categorized as sensitives, including hypoesthesia (with a higher prevalence in comparison to when it first appeared, more than 12 months ago) and impairment of the sensory-motor ulnar nerve.

Author Biographies

Francisco Marcos Bezerra da Cunha

2 Professor of neurology at the Federal University of Cariri, Ce-Brazil.

 

Italla Maria Pinheiro Bezerra, Laboratory of Design and Scientific Writing. Basic Sciences Department, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC

Laboratory of Design and Scientific Writing. Basic Sciences Department, Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, 821 Príncipe de Gales Avenue, 09060-650. Santo André, SP, Brazil

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Published

2015-10-25

Issue

Vol. 8 (2015)

Section

Epidemiology

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