Epidemiology of human visceral leishmaniasis in Fortaleza-CE

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the epidemiology of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) in the city of Fortaleza-CE, during the period of 2001 to 2007 and its distribution by Executive Regional Secretariat (SER). Methods: Data were collected in the Epidemiological Monitoring cell of the Municipal Health Secretariat (SMS) of Fortaleza, through a survey on the prevalence of human VL disease per year, according to sex, age, number of cases by SER and lethality rate. Results: Among the 1051 cases with the sex identification, 685 were males, representing 65.1%; the most affected age group was 1 to 4 years old with 240 cases (22.8%); the highest incidence was observed in 2007 at SER III (21.9 / 100,000 inhab.) and 51 deaths were recorded in the period at the capital, due to the condition. Conclusion: This study showed that VL in the city of Fortaleza is in a process of urbanization, in which the number of cases is increasing over the years and following in the direction of central SER areas. It was observed that SER III, V and VI are those that most require investments to control this disease.