Óbitos causados pela paracoccidioidomicose no Brasil durante o período de 1996-2020

Abstract

Paracoccidioidomycosis is an opportunistic mycotic zoonosis of a systemic nature, most prevalent in the South American region, caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in the sexual form. It is found in the following aspects: the infective conformation of the disease which is the mycelial form (PCM-infection) and the yeast form being the pathogenic form (PCM-disease). It affects immunocompetent individuals and clinical signs may be delayed due to the quiescent capacity of the fungus. The symptoms of the disease are variable and are differentiated into acute, subacute, chronic and residual forms, and may include lymphadenopathy, cutaneous, pulmonary and neurological lesions. Animals such as armadillos, dogs, monkeys, bats can be carriers. The diagnosis is obtained by direct observation of the fungus under the microscope through scraping of the lesion, aspiration puncture of lymph nodes and/or removal of biopsy fragments from infected organs, in addition to serology as an indirect diagnostic method. The treatment is done with systemic antifungals, having a wide variety in the market. Almost all publications on this disease in humans are based on reports of cases and deaths published with few reports on the epidemiological characteristics of the disease. In this sense, studies that report the distribution of the occurrence of cases and deaths help in understanding the areas of greatest risk. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the occurrence of PCM deaths in Brazil during the period 1996-2020 and establish its importance for public health. To characterize the profile of deaths, ICD 10-B41 was considered, using data from the online platform of the Mortality Information System of the Ministry of Health. These were separated by gender, age group, education level, region/state, place of occurrence and annual deaths. It is concluded that the highlighted disease is extremely relevant for public health, with 2101 deaths in the period, which occurred in all Brazilian states, mainly in the Southeast region, predominantly in adults and males. The correct diagnosis of this mycosis is essential to prevent damage, initiate an early therapeutic approach and contribute to a good prognosis.