Nelson Pereira Marques1, Nádia Carolina Teixeira Marques2,3, Iberto Medeiros Cardozo4, Daniella Reis Barbosa Martelli5, Edson Gomes de Lucena6, Eduardo Araújo Oliveira7,8, Hercílio Martelli Júnior2,5. 1. Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, Piracicaba, SP, Brasil. 2. Universidade José do Rosário Vellano, Centro de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais, Alfenas, MG, Brasil. 3. Universidade José do Rosário Vellano, Departamento de Odontopediatria, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brasil. 4. Faculdade FUNORTE, Escola de Medicina, Instituto de Ciências da Saúde, Montes Claros, MG, Brasil. 5. Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Montes Claros, MG, Brasil. 6. Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Departamento de Clínica e Odontologia Social, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil. 7. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Faculdade de Medicina, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. 8. University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the access of patients with Hansen's disease (HD) to care due to changes in routine health services. METHODS: To ascertain this, we compared the number of HD cases diagnosed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The decrease in HD cases in Brazil reached 18,223 (-48.4%), corresponding to an average reduction of 1,518 cases per month during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Therefore, effective measures should be implemented to minimize the damage and the consequent negative health impact of COVID-19 on the care of HD patients.
INTRODUCTION:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has limited the access of patients with Hansen's disease (HD) to care due to changes in routine health services. METHODS: To ascertain this, we compared the number of HD cases diagnosed before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS: The decrease in HD cases in Brazil reached 18,223 (-48.4%), corresponding to an average reduction of 1,518 cases per month during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Therefore, effective measures should be implemented to minimize the damage and the consequent negative health impact of COVID-19 on the care of HDpatients.