Epidemiological Profile of Visceral Leishmaniasis in the Baixo Tocantins Region, Pará State, Eastern Amazon, 2018–2022

Abstract

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a Neglected Tropical Disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania and remains a significant public health concern due to its high incidence and lethality. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological profile of human VL in the Baixo Tocantins region (Pará State, Brazil) from 2018 to 2022. Data were collected from population, environmental, and health surveillance information systems and analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests. Over the study period, 192 cases were recorded, corresponding to an incidence rate of 20.9 per 100,000 inhabitants. Most cases occurred in children under 12 years of age (56.8%), males (59%), and individuals self-identified as mixed race (78%), with a higher concentration between July and October. Although an approximately 85% reduction in case numbers was observed from 2018 to 2022, previous studies suggest that this decline may be associated with COVID-19–related underreporting. These findings indicate that VL remains a relevant public health issue at both regional and national levels, underscoring the need to strengthen surveillance strategies, disease control measures, and educational actions aimed at promoting individual and collective health.

Keywords: Leishmania. Amazon. Parasitic disease.