title: Hospital morbidity due to paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazil (1998-2006).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse hospital morbidity records due to paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazil, including its nationwide distribution in time and space, as well as key epidemiological and sociodemographic characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive analysis of hospital morbidity records due to paracoccidioidomycosis covering the period January 1998 to December 2006. Hospital records were obtained from the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SIH/SUS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 6732 hospitalisations (82% male) due to paracoccidioidomycosis in the period, representing 4.3 per 1.0 million inhabitants. Admissions due to this mycosis were recorded in 27% of the 5560 Brazilian municipalities, covering 35% of the country. Ten municipalities concentrated 52% of all admissions. The temporal distribution of admissions for paracoccidioidomycosis showed a slight increase. The geographical analysis showed two distinct patterns of the disease: (i) traditional areas of southern and south-eastern regions, covering 60% of admissions, and (ii) a second pattern in northern Brazil revealed a transverse band of higher concentration with about 27% of admissions, particularly along the southern border of the Amazon region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This first nationwide analysis of hospitalisation due to paracoccidioidomycosis in Brazil shows that it is the most prevalent systemic mycosis in Brazil. Despite its importance, there are major deficits in its proper registry, diagnostics and treatment. The particular epidemiological and medical challenges of paracoccidioidomycosis will not be met while the disease continues to be perceived as an isolated infectious entity restricted to a few faraway regions of the globe.
authors: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Ziadir Francisco
authors: ZF
authors: Coutinho
authors: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Bodo
authors: B
authors: Wanke
authors: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Travassos
authors: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Rosely Magalhães
authors: RM
authors: Oliveira
authors: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Diego Ricardo
authors: DR
authors: Xavier
authors: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors: Carlos E A
authors: CE
authors: Coimbra
keywords: enfermedades tropicales olvidadas; health services; hospitalisation; hospitalización; maladies tropicales négligées; micosis; morbidity; morbidité; morbilidad; mycoses; mycosis; paracoccidioidomicosis; paracoccidioidomycosis; paracoccidioïdomycose; services de santé; servicios sanitarios; tropical neglected diseases