Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 on the diagnoses of Hansen's disease in Brazil

Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2021 Jul 23:54:e02512021. doi: 10.1590/0037-8682-0251-2021. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the access of patients with Hansen's disease (HD) to care due to changes in routine health services.

Methods: To ascertain this, we compared the number of HD cases diagnosed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: The decrease in HD cases in Brazil reached 18,223 (-48.4%), corresponding to an average reduction of 1,518 cases per month during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion: Therefore, effective measures should be implemented to minimize the damage and the consequent negative health impact of COVID-19 on the care of HD patients.

MeSH terms

  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Leprosy* / epidemiology
  • Pandemics
  • SARS-CoV-2