CLINICAL CHARACTERIZATION, SOCIAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC OF FAMILIES WITH CASES OF HANSENIASIS: USE OF THE GENOGRAM AS A TOOL AUXILIARY (Atena Editora)

Abstract

Leprosy is an important public health problem in Brazil, the second country in the world with the highest detection rate of new cases. In 2011, the Ministry of Health recommended that all contacts of new cases be examined; however, the indicators showed that this action is far from what is necessary to have any impact on the reduction of transmission sources. In order to better understand the distribution of leprosy in family groups, the construction of the genogram was adopted as a strategy to be used as a tool for the graphic representation of the family. It represents the different members, the relationship pattern and their main morbidities. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical-sociodemographic data from the family of a patient with leprosy for the construction of a genogram. The data generated from the genogram will help in the monitoring of family members, especially those with clinical suspicion, to make an early diagnosis of leprosy, in addition to favoring the interruption of the chain of transmission of the disease. The study was carried out in the municipality of Inhapim, close to GV, located in the east of Minas Gerais, Brazil. It involved a total of 20 individuals, being one patient with leprosy and the other members of the same family, totaling 04 intradomiciliary and 15 extradomiciliary contacts. The genogram presented four generations (I, II, III and IV) that included the parents of the index case, the index case with its 11 siblings, 8 children, nephews and grandchildren. The data generated by the genogram will help in the monitoring of family members, especially those with clinical suspicion, for an early diagnosis favoring the interruption of the leprosy transmission chain.