Background:
Leprosy is endemic to Brazil. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have affected diagnosis and treatment.
Methods:
Study in Mossoró-RN (2018-2023) analyzing epidemiological data, treatment abandonment, and COVID-19 co-infection.
Results:
The average weekly number of cases declined during the post-pandemic period. The dropout rate was higher during the acute phase. Male sex was associated with dropout (odds ratio [OR], 6.32; p = 0.013). Of the 57 patients tested for COVID-19, 21 tested positive, with no clinical aggravation.
Conclusions:
The pandemic has affected leprosy control. Local strategies helped reduce the impact, and co-infection did not worsen the disease.
BT - Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical DO - 10.1590/0037-8682-0276-2025 LA - ENG M3 - Article N2 -Background:
Leprosy is endemic to Brazil. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have affected diagnosis and treatment.
Methods:
Study in Mossoró-RN (2018-2023) analyzing epidemiological data, treatment abandonment, and COVID-19 co-infection.
Results:
The average weekly number of cases declined during the post-pandemic period. The dropout rate was higher during the acute phase. Male sex was associated with dropout (odds ratio [OR], 6.32; p = 0.013). Of the 57 patients tested for COVID-19, 21 tested positive, with no clinical aggravation.
Conclusions:
The pandemic has affected leprosy control. Local strategies helped reduce the impact, and co-infection did not worsen the disease.
PB - FapUNIFESP (SciELO) PY - 2026 SP - 1 EP - 5 T2 - Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical TI - Brazil accounts for nearly 90% of the leprosy cases in the Americas UR - https://www.scielo.br/j/rsbmt/a/4TvhLp5ncnD4m5n7FYDQvyt/?format=pdf&lang=en VL - 59 SN - 1678-9849, 0037-8682 ER -