Characterization of the Provincial Leprosy Clinic in Matanzas

Abstract

Introduction: Leprosy or Hansen’s disease is a bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which affects the skin and peripheral nerves. Its opportune diagnosis and precocious treatment depend on the knowledge of it and the characterization of the patients.

Objective: To characterize the patients who attend the Provincial Leprosy Clinic.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive observational study was carried out, in the period from January 2022 to December 2023, at the Clinical Surgical University Hospital Comandante Faustino Pérez Hernandez. The universe consisted of all patients diagnosed in that period. The variables used were: age, sex, classification of leprosy, time of diagnosis and presence of reactional state. The data were obtained from the individual medical history and they were processed by the SPSS statistical package, version 20.

Results: The most affected age group was of 30 to 39 years, represented with 28.6%; 57.1% belonged to the female sex. The form of presentation with the highest incidence, with 71.4%, was the multibacillary. Late diagnosis was the predominant one, with 78.6%, and only 42.9% presented reactional state.

Conclusions: The quality of care and the commitment of health personnel are necessary for the early diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and adequate control of the disease.