Epidemiological aspects and distribution of infection cases by Schistosoma mansoni in municipalities in the Alagoas State, Brazil

Abstract

Schistosomiasis mansoni is an infectious parasitic disease of public health importance in Brazil, presenting endemically in the Alagoas State. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate the epidemiological profile about the cases of schistosomiasis in some municipalities of Alagoas. It was conducted a descriptive study with a quantitative approach and secondary data from the Programa de Controle da Esquistossomose (Schistosomiasis Control Program), related to infection by Schistosoma mansoni in the period from 2010 to 2014. Among the positive cases for schistosomiasis, it is observed that the frequency in Alagoas was higher in 2011, with 7.40% positive, but in 2014 it was reduced to a percentage of 6.22%. The most affected gender by this endemic disease was the male one, totaling 57.05% of cases, between 15-49 years old (58.63%). Regarding intermediate hosts, the species Biomphalaria glabrata was predominant in the municipalities of Alagoas, in 57.92% of the municipalities. It was concluded that is really important the use of measures to control the environmental and educational risk factors in an effort to reduce new cases of schistosomiasis in endemic municipalities in Alagoas.