title: Characteristics of pregnant and lactating women with leprosy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical characteristics of women who conceive during leprosy and the association between leprosy and pregnancy are not well known.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 49 pregnant or lactating women diagnosed with leprosy in 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients had a clinical dimorphous form of leprosy (44.9%), no physical incapacity at diagnosis (87.5%), and no complications in either the patient or infant (33.4%). In 36.3% of cases, leprosy symptoms were presented in the last trimester of pregnancy, and in 31.9% of patients were in the first trimester of lactation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between leprosy and pregnancy should be routinely investigated, particularly in endemic areas.
authors: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Paula Sacha Frota
authors: PS
authors: Nogueira
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Escolástica Rejane Ferreira
authors: ER
authors: Moura
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Andrezza Alves
authors: AA
authors: Dias
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Camila Félix
authors: CF
authors: Américo
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Lidiane Rebouças
authors: LR
authors: Aguiar
authors: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors: Mayenne Myrcea Quintino Pereira
authors: MM
authors: Valente
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007774:Lactation; D007918:Leprosy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult