title: Urbanization of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is endemic in Brazil and appears to occur in epidemic form in the state of Ceará. Few epidemiologic studies have been done on VL in this state. The aim of this study is to establish the epidemiologic pattern of VL in Fortaleza City and to show how urbanization has occurred in recent years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were obtained from the State Health Department of Fortaleza, Ceará, and included all cases of VL registered in Fortaleza from January 2001 to December 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were a marked increase and an elevated incidence of cases of VL in urban areas. Children and young people were the most affected group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The epidemic occurrence of VL in the region must convince authorities to adopt more adequate policies of disease control.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Geral César Cals de Oliveira, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. pollylemos@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Polianna Lemos Moura Moreira
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.forename: Geraldo Bezerra da
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Silva Júnior
authors.forename: Caio César Furtado
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Freire
authors.forename: Stephanie Bachi de Castro
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Daniel Medeiros
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Herivaldo Ferreira da
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Maria do Socorro
authors.initials: Mdo S
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: Anastácio de Queiroz
authors.initials: Ade Q
authors.lastname: Sousa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult