EVOLUÇÃO DE GRAU DE INCAPACIDADE FÍSICA EM PESSOAS COM HANSENÍASE: ESTUDO LONGITUDINAL

Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy is a disabling and contagious infectious disease in which even after discharge by cure can develop the development of sequelae. Objective: To evaluate the evolution of the degree of physical disability of people with leprosy. Method: This is an observational, descriptive, longitudinal design research. The study was developed in two stages with a minimum interstitial of two years between the stages in a hyperendemic municipality of Piauí. 256 people were evaluated and the clinical form, operational classification and the degree of physical disability were analyzed. Results: The study participants had an indeterminate clinical form (41.8%), paucibacillary operating classification (55.5%), at first 54% had degree of physical disability I and at second moment 63.5% also degree of physical disability I. Longitudinal evaluation showed an increase among those classified as degree of physical disability I of 17.64%. Conclusions: The evaluation of both moments showed that there was an increase among people classified as having some degree of physical disability, with a percentage increase between degree of physical disability I.