title: Reactional state and nutritional profile among leprosy patients in the primary health care system, Greater Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil.
abstract: Leprosy may present acute/subacute inflammatory processes (leprosy reactions). The study characterized the reactional states of patients at health clinics in Vitória, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, and associated them with sociodemographic factors and clinical/nutritional variables. between January and December 2009, longitudinal follow-up of patients with leprosy continued until leprosy reactions occurred or patients completed 6 months of multidrug therapy. Of the 151 patients participating, 78 (51.7%) were females, 48 (31.8%) had 5 to 8 years schooling, 93 (61.6%) worked and earned from 1 to 3 minimum wages, and 55 (36.4 %) had leprosy reactions, but with no statistical association to socioeconomic characteristics or nutritional status. However, absence of reaction was more common in the low-weight group, suggesting a trend in this group to protection from the reaction (p = 0.0906). The study found no association between nutritional status and leprosy reaction.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brasil. rnnegro@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Rosa Maria Natalli
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Montenegro
authors.forename: Eliana
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zandonade
authors.forename: Maria Del Carmen Bisi
authors.initials: Mdel C
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: Lúcia Martins
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Diniz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status / Q000502:physiology*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult