Retrospective and cross-sectional study of cases of acute Chagas disease in Brazil from 2007 to 2018

Abstract

Chagas disease is a neglected disease that is endemic in 21 countries in South America. In Brazil, chronic cases currently predominate, however, outbreaks of acute cases have occurred with considerable frequency. It is caused by a flagellated protozoan called Trypanosoma cruzi and has as vector the triatomine popularly known as barber. The aim of this study was to retrospectively describe the cases of acute chagas disease registered in the country between 2007 and 2018. The work was developed through direct research to the data available on the platform of the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). The study variables considered were the types of transmission, which can be classified as Ign/white, transfusional, vectorial, vertical, accidental, oral or other. The data were tabulated according to the number of cases and the corresponding percentage, using the Word and Excel programs, respectively. As a result, of the 2.646 total cases, the majority prevalence of the Northern Region of Brazil was obtained, with a total of 2.505 cases of acute chagas disease, corresponding to 94,67% of the Brazilian cases. After, there is the Northeast region, with 96 confirmed cases (3,63%). In the third position is the Midwest region, with 34 cases (1,28%), followed by the Southeast region, with 7 cases (0,26%) and the South, with only 4 registered cases corresponding to 0,15%. The study pointed out that, although the vector route is the most popularly known, there was a considerable increase in the oral transmission of the disease, a fact that can be explained by the eating habits of consumption of tropical fruits and juices, such as açaí and sugarcane juice. This indicates that measures should be taken, such as greater rigor in food surveillance, in addition to vector control. In addition, the importance of the existence of a digital platform where the population can have access to public health data is ratified.