Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of New Cases of Leprosy Treated in Guinea Bissau, 2020 – 2024
Abstract:
This study describes the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of new leprosy cases reported in Guinea- Bissau between 2020 and 2024. A retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using data collected from the registry book of the Hospital do Mal de Hansen in Cumura, the national reference center for leprosy diagnosis and treatment. During the five-year period, 52 new cases were diagnosed, with men representing 58% of the patients. Multibacillary leprosy was the predominant clinical form, and individuals aged 45 years or older accounted for half of all cases. Grade II deformities were observed in 13% of patients. Additionally, 3% of cases involved immigrants who had spent the previous seven years outside endemic regions, and 15% of all detected cases originated from neighboring countries. Although Guinea-Bissau maintains an average detection rate of 0.05 per 10,000 inhabitants, population movement between endemic and non-endemic areas may influence surveillance outcomes. These findings highlight the continued burden of neglected tropical diseases in the country and underscore the need for strengthened surveillance strategies, particularly in non-endemic regions and cross-border areas.
