Epidemiological characterization of visceral leishmaniasis cases in the municipality of Imperatriz, Maranhão, Brazil

Abstract

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is an infectious-parasitic disease with chronic evolution and systemic involvement when untreated, belonging to the group of neglected diseases. This descriptive and retrospective study aims to analyze the dynamics of the occurrence of VL cases in the city of Imperatriz-MA from 2007 to 2020, through an epidemiological survey carried out through data collection in SINAN. During the study period, 748 new cases of VL were recorded, with an average of 53.43 cases per year (± 31.66). There was a significant increase between 2016 and 2018, followed by successive reductions in 2019 and 2020. In addition, 30 cases of recurrence were reported, with an average of 2.14 cases per year (± 1.99). The distribution of cases revealed a predominance of male individuals, brown skin color, age under 14 years and a low level of education. Despite the downward trend in the number of cases, the conclusion highlights the continued need for control measures and health education to minimize the impacts of zoonosis, reinforcing the importance of epidemiological surveillance and preventive actions.