Notification of Leptospirosis cases and the rainy months in Belém-PA, between the years 2018 and 2022

Abstract

Leptospirosis is a serious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, the most common being the species L. interrogans, common in tropical and subtropical regions, such as Belém-PA, where outbreaks occur mainly during heavy rains that cause urban flooding and facilitate contact with water possibly contaminated by rodent urine. The study aims to analyze the cases of Leptospirosis reported in Belém between 2018 and 2022, identifying temporal and geographic patterns, in addition to evaluating the relationship between rainfall, Standard Precipitation Index (IPP) and the incidence of the disease. The study, of a descriptive and cross-sectional nature, used data from the National System of Notifiable Diseases (SINAN) and the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET). The analysis of confirmed cases of Leptospirosis in Belém, from 2018 to 2022, reveals distinct seasonal patterns. The concentration of cases in the months of January to May, with special emphasis on March, suggests an association between these months and environmental or climatic conditions that favor the spread of the disease. This period may coincide with the beginning of the rainy season in the region. It is concluded that the high incidence of Leptospirosis is associated with heavy rainfall, especially in the months of greatest precipitation, which favor the spread of the disease.