Epidemiological profile of Visceral Leishmaniasis in northeastern Brazil from 2009 to 2019

Abstract

Objective: This is a retrospective epidemiological study, with a quantitative and qualitative approach, which aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the northeast from 2009 to 2019. Methods: The selected variables' number of cases by state, age group, sex, ethnicity, confirmation criteria, education, HIV co-infection, municipality of infection, municipality of notification, and evolution, were obtained through the Disease Information System of Notification (SINAN). A descriptive analysis of the data was performed, and a comparison was made between the years. Results: The state of Maranhão leads as the state with the highest number of cases since 2015. There was a significant reduction in reported cases in the last year, however, it remains in the range between 1500 to 2500 cases. The brown race, being the predominant race in Brazil, has the highest number of cases among ethnic groups. The age group predominantly affected by VL is distributed between 0 to 14 years. 64.87% of cases progressed to cure. Conclusion: Although visceral leishmaniasis offers a real risk to public health, the disease remains extremely neglected, requiring new control measures to eliminate transmission and prevent a new epidemic.