Clinical-Epidemiological Characterization of Leprosy in Santiago de Cuba Municipality

Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy is a tropical infectious disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, with a chronic evolution, resulting in deformities and stigmatization.

Objective: To characterize leprosy clinical-epidemiologically in Santiago de Cuba Municipality.

Methods: A retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study was carried out of the diagnosed cases of leprosy in Santiago de Cuba Municipality during the period 2015-2019, taking their clinical-epidemiological histories as sources. The universe was made up of all the patients with leprosy, notified and registered in the eighteen polyclinics of the municipality. The statistical method of percentage calculation was used. The results were presented in tables.

Results: The area of José Martí neighborhood was observed to have the highest number of new cases. There were no significant differences regarding sex. Dimorphic leprosy was the most frequent clinical form; while, among disabilities, the grade 2 was observed to present the highest incidence, although patients without disabilities predominated.

Conclusions: Despite the existence of a national leprosy program in the country, cases with disabilities are still diagnosed in our province, which suggests that there are difficulties in the correct application of that program.