HISTORICAL SERIES WITH AN OVERVIEW OF AMERICAN CUTANEOUS LEISHMANIASIS IN THE AMAZON WITH A FOCUS ON THE NUMBER OF CASES OCCURRING IN RURAL AREAS

Abstract

Introduction: American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ATL) is an infectious disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania that cause ulcers on the skin and mucous membranes. It is a primary zoonosis of wild mammals (rodents, marsupials, edentates and primates). Objective: To show a 10-year historical series of the panorama of leishmaniasis in Amazonas with a focus on the number of cases occurring in rural and urban areas. Methodology: This is a study of consolidation and treatment of public data existing in epidemiological bulletins on official websites of the Ministry of Health (SINAN, SINAN/ON- Microdata SINAN and Health Surveillance Foundation-FVS-RCP and epidemiological bulletin of FVS). Results: From January 2015 to December 2024, 12,186 cases of Leishmaniasis were reported in Amazonas, of which 69.3% were male, the majority (with an average: M=23%) were in the age group between 20 and 29 years old, with M=67% living in urban areas, and a smaller but very significant number (M=31%) in rural areas, M=3% peri-urban. The majority M=78% were brown-skinned, and a very significant number M=7% were indigenous. The cities that recorded the highest number of cases were those that receive large numbers of tourists every year: Presidente Figueiredo (28.6% of all cases) and Manaus (19.9% ​​of cases). Conclusion: Leishmaniasis continues to expand to rural areas, therefore, health education and promotion must be intensified to inform tourists and rural people about precautionary measures to avoid infection by this protozoan.