title: Main vocal complaints of elderly patients after leprosy treatment.
abstract: Leprosy is an infectious disease, with vocal involvement varying between hoarseness and difficult breathing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Compare the main vocal complaints among elderly patients after treatment for leprosy and a control group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive prospective.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 50 patients aged over 60 years, 32 had been treated for leprosy, and the others formed the control group. We used our own questionnaire to analyze the vocal symptoms presented by the two groups, as well as gender, age, life style and comorbidities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the treated group, the most frequent symptoms were hawk (34.4%) and hoarseness (28.1%), while in the control group the most prevalent symptoms were hoarseness (77.8%) and a foreign body sensation (55.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most prevalent voice complaints in patients treated for leprosy are hawking and hoarseness, and that its development is influenced by life style and associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de janeiro - UFRJ.
authors.forename: Francisco Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Palheta Neto
authors.forename: Manoel da
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Silva Filho
authors.forename: José Mariano Soriano
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pantoja Junior
authors.forename: Larissa Lane Cardoso
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Rafaela Vale de
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Angélica Cristina Pezzin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Palheta
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006685:Hoarseness / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007818:Laryngeal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014832:Voice Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*