WHO disability grade does not influence physical activity in Brazilian leprosy patients

Disability caused by leprosy may be associated with stigma. The aim of this work is to describe the degree of disability, quality of life and level of physical activity of individuals with leprosy and to identify possible correlations between these factors. Ninety-seven patients from two referral centres were studied. A complete medical history was taken and the World Health Organization degree of physical disability classification (WHO-DG), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Medical Outcome Study 36-item Short-form health Survey (SF36) were applied. The mean age of patients was 51 +/- 14.9 years old; participants were predominantly men, married, unemployed, had concluded treatment and had had lepromatous leprosy. The WHO-DG and the level of physical activity (P-value = 0.36) were not correlated. The WHO-DG showed that 72.2% of patients had disabilities, 37-1% of whom performed vigorous physical activities. No significant association was observed between the WHO-DG and the domains of the QoL SF-36 except for functional capacity (P-value = 0.02); the physical capacity is generally 'very good' when individuals have no disabilities and 'bad' with severe disabilities. In conclusion, the WHO-DG of leprosy patients does not affect the level of physical activities or quality of life except functional capacity. There is no significant association between physical activities and quality of life in these individuals.

Neurophysiological patterns of ulnar nerve neuropathy in leprosy reactions

Background: Leprosy neuropathy, despite being primarily demyelinating, frequently leads to axonal loss. Neurophysiological examination of the nerves during Type 1 (T1R) and Type 2 reactions (T2R) may give some insight into the pathophysiological mechanisms.Methods: Neurophysiological examinations were performed in 28 ulnar nerves during a clinical trial of steroid treatment effectiveness, 19 patients with T1R and nine with T2R. The nerves were monitored during a period of 6 months; there were eight assessments per nerve, for a total of 224 assessments. Nine neurophysiological parameters were assessed at three sites of the ulnar nerve. The compound motor action potential amplitudes elicited at wrist, elbow and above, as well as the conduction velocity and temporal dispersion across the elbow, were chosen to focus on the changes occurring in the parameters at the elbow tunnel.Results and Conclusion: Neurophysiological changes indicating axonal and demyelinating processes during both T1R and T2R were detected across the elbow. Changes in demyelination, i.e. a Conduction Block, as a primary event present during T2R, occurring as an acute phenomenon, were observed regularly; in T1R Temporal Dispersion, a subacute phenomenon, was seen. During treatment remyelination occurred after both types of reactions.

Laryngeal lesion in leprosy and the risk of aspiration

Leprosy affects the larynx, damaging its mucosa and sensory nerves and loss of sensation may result in aspiration of food and secretions. The laryngeal lesion may be insidious. Post-mortem studies showed bronchopneumonia that could have originated from aspiration. In patients with laryngeal symptoms, dysphagia or aspiration pneumonia loss of laryngeal sensation should be looked for.

In vitro and skin lesion cytokine profile in Brazilian patients with borderline tuberculoid and borderline lepromatous leprosy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Socioeconomic and demographic profile of leprosy carriers attended in nursing consultations

A hanseníase é doença infecto-contagiosa para a qual, além das condições individuais, outros fatores relacionados aos níveis de endemia e às condições socioeconômicas desfavoráveis influem no risco de adoecer. Objetivou-se reconhecer o perfil socioeconômico e demográfico e o grau de incapacidade instalado dos portadores de hanseníase, atendidos no Centro de Saúde Escola de Botucatu, São Paulo, Brasil. Fizeram parte do estudo 37 pacientes. Os dados foram obtidos por meio do instrumento de consulta de enfermagem. Os resultados mostraram predominância de indivíduos com união estável (78%), brancos (92%), com idade entre 30 e 49 anos (51%), com baixo nível de escolaridade e com renda familiar per capita menor que um salário mínimo. Mais de um terço dos pacientes investigados (35%) apresentavam algum grau de incapacidade física. A associação do baixo perfil socioeconômico com a presença de incapacidades físicas imprime maior vulnerabilidade a essa população, podendo impactar negativamente a sua qualidade de vida.

Consulta de enfermagem: estratégia de cuidado ao portador de hanseníase em atenção primária

Objetivou-se analisar instrumento de consulta de enfermagem utilizado no atendimento de portadores de hanseníase e identificar as principais necessidades de saúde e as ações de enfermagem propostas. Fizeram parte desta pesquisa 37 usuários, sendo 27 em poliquimioterapia e 10 em seguimento pós-alta medicamentosa. A coleta de dados ocorreu no período de dezembro de 2003 a dezembro de 2006, por meio dos instrumentos de consulta de enfermagem - Caso Novo e Consulta de Seguimento, baseados no processo de enfermagem proposto por Horta com adaptações. Fez-se uso da estatística descritiva para a análise dos mesmos. Conclui-se que o instrumento foi potente na identificação de necessidades das diversas esferas que se relacionam ao processo saúde-doença, facilitando intervenções conjuntas com a equipe multiprofissional, contribuindo para a prevenção de agravos, especialmente das incapacidades físicas, com a melhoria da saúde dos indivíduos, bem como com a educação em saúde destes e de seus familiares.

A terminologia relativa à hanseníase

A padronização internacional de doenças é um processo complexo que necessita de uma equipe especializada. Esta comunicação visa a esclarecer e sugerir correções de um provável equívoco na tradução, para o português da CID-10, do código A30, no qual os termos borderline e dimorfo são utilizados como subcategorias distintas e não como sinônimos, assim como substituir a designação lepromatosa por virchoviana pois, no Brasil, o vocábulo lepra foi abolido dos textos oficiais, por uma lei federal em 1995.

Modelagem molecular da Chiquimato quinase de Mycobacterium leprae

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise da evolução de pacientes com paralisia facial periférica submetidos a reabilitação

INTRODUÇÃO: A paralisia facial periférica (PFP) consiste no acometimento do sétimo nervo craniano, de forma aguda, podendo ser precedida por dor na região mastoidiana e resultando em paralisia completa ou parcial da mímica facial. É, na sua grande maioria, de causa idiopática ou apresenta diversas etiologias como diabetes mellitus, hipertensão arterial, herpes zoster, viroses, otites médias, infecções (lepra, sífilis, doença de Lyme), sarcoidose, traumatismo e tumores. Apesar da paralisia facial periférica ter sido descrita em 1821, por Sir Charles Bell, ainda hoje existe muita controvérsia a respeito da etiologia e tratamento. A incidência da PFP encontra-se entre 20 a 30 casos por 100 mil habitantes, com prevalência ligeiramente maior entre as mulheres. Baseado nessas premissas, este estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a evolução de pacientes com paralisia facial periférica submetidos a um protocolo de reabilitação. METODOLOGIA: No estudo foram incluídos 30 pacientes com diagnóstico de paralisia facial periférica idiopática, atendidos no Centro de Estudos e Reabilitação em Fisioterapia (CEAFIR), da FCT-UNESP, campus de Presidente Prudente. O presente estudo adotou como procedimento fisioterapêutico os protocolos I, II, III e IV. Antes de realizar qualquer técnica, abaixo mencionada, foi explicado ao paciente cada passo, para evitar surpreendê-lo. Conforme os pacientes apresentassem melhora e evoluções nas reavaliações elétricas, foram feitas recomendações de exercícios para mímica facial, em frente ao espelho. As repetições eram aumentadas gradativamente, posteriormente os mesmos exercícios, mas agora ativos resistidos. RESULTADOS: Os valores das variáveis reobase, cronaxia e acomodação, nos garantem que o protocolo usado permite avaliar a condução nervosa do facial, o grau de evolução da condução nervosa, bem como acompanhar... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Eles não são intocáveis: histórias de quem foi isolado por causa da hanseníase

The book features profiles in which are told histories of people who, because of having leprosy, have had experienced periods of great prejudice. Even in the 80s, there were still cases of compulsory hospitalization of patients. In other words, people were forced to withdraw from society because they had Hansen's disease. The narrative of the personal histories, at the book, is broken by explanations regarding to the disease and by the development of important aspects concerning the historical theme

Percepção dos portadores de hanseníase acerca do auto cuidado

This study aimed at evaluating the perception of leprosy patients, the disease, with regard to its concept and self-care practice, as well as their knowledge concerning drug therapy. Fifteen patients participated in the study, of whom 11 were classified as multibacillary and 04 as paucibacillary. Semi-structure interviews containing six guiding questions were used for data collection, and the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) was utilized as a theoretical framework. Analysis was performed based on the Theory of Complexity. It showed that patients suffer pain, a fact that is reflected on the need to change habits and prevent disability. It also showed that patients have doubts and feel insecure about treatment and prognosis, and that they are also the target of social prejudice even thought the term leprosy has been replaced by Hansen‟s disease. As regards self-care, the subjects showed lack of autonomy, limitations and subjection to instructions from health care professionals, who, according to the discourse that emerged, are mostly responsible for transmitting the knowledge concerning self-care practice. This fact can be explained by evidence of self-knowledge deficit by the the subjects. Concerning polychemotherapy treatment, which is recommended by the Ministry of Health, it was observed that the knowledge concerning its action and adverse effects is precarious. This information is provided during consultation; however, CSD showed that the subjects do not apprehend it. Therefore, health care professionals must instruct their clients not only as regards conventional treatment practices, but they must also help them to know themselves and to improve their critical judgment so that they can choose the best form of living after being diagnosed with the disease, thus guiding self-care by taking such choice into account

Autocuidado na percepção de pessoas com hanseníase sob a ótica da complexidade

Objective: This study aimed to understand how patients with Hansen's Disease perceive self-care from the complexity perspective. Methods: Qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study based on the Collective Subject Discourse. Results: Sample composed of 15 subjects, most of whom were married males (66.6%) with a mean age of 52.3 years and were classified in the polarized forms of the disease. The following themes emerged from the DCS synthesis: having Hansen's Disease, drug therapy, self-care and lifestyle. The study provided visibility to the vertical model, which is largely hegemonic in the tradition of public health care policies, showing concern about only treating the disease, disregarding the complex relationships involved. Conclusion: Acknowledging these limitations and setting strategies to change them in favor of the dialogue among interprofessional team members are challenges to further develop self-care practices and to empower patients in relation to treatment and disease.