Hanseníase no Brasil: uma revisão literária, nos anos de 2014 a 2019.

Abstract

Leprosy, as it was formerly known, is an infectious disease that has long affected mankind worldwide. Caused by Mycobacterium leprae which has high invasive power in skin cells and peripheral nerves, causing various signs and symptoms, such as skin lesions with loss of sensation and impairment of nerve functions. The characterization of the clinical manifestations of the disease classifies the infective form of the cases, directing the patient to appropriate treatment and cure. This study consists of a critical analysis of articles from scientific journals, dissertations and academic theses using as database Google Scholar, MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO and PubMed, where we used the following descriptors: Leprosy, Leprosy in Brazil, History of Leprosy, Mycobacterium leprae, Polychemotherapy, between 2014 and 2019. We analyzed 26 articles, according to them, it was concluded that the early diagnosis of leprosy cases, the correct classification of the clinical forms of the disease, education actions in health, the social appreciation of carriers to end disease-related stigma and discrimination, disclosure of signs and symptoms, prompt initiation of treatment, and effective epidemiological control of disease cases and contacts are critical to successful treatment and cure.