ANALYSIS OF THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF CASES OF VISCERAL LEISHMANIASIS IN THE STATE OF PARANÁ IN THE PERIOD OF 2012-2021

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Brazil, caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum chagasi, is a serious parasitic disease transmitted through the bite of the sandfly (Lutzomyia longipalpis), popularly known as sandfly. The main clinical manifestations of VL are symptoms such as prolonged fever, weight loss and enlargement of organs, such as the spleen and liver. Brazil faces challenges due to environmental factors, socioeconomic conditions and reservoir hosts such as dogs, considering this, VL is a more common disease in the Northeast, North and Southeast. However, Paraná is the state with the second highest number of cases in the southern region of Brazil, making it important to analyze the numbers and profiles of registered cases. All confirmed cases of VL in Brazil must be reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), made available by the Ministry of Health for further studies. In this article, the epidemiological profile of VL cases in the state of Paraná was analyzed over a period of 10 years, according to the year, Federative Unit, age and sex.