ABSTRACT Background: Brazil ranks first in the number of snakebites in South America. A detailed analysis of these cases is required to improve the public health planning. In this study, we retrospectively examined the clinical and epidemiological profiles of snakebites in Maranhão between January 2009 and December 2019. Methods: Data were obtained from the compulsory notification forms provided by the Health Department of Maranhão. Results: A total of 17,658 cases were recorded during the study period. Most of the bites were from snakes belonging to the genus Bothrops. Medical care was mostly within three hours after the bite. Most cases were classified as mild and most victims recovered; however, 139 deaths were recorded. Most bites occurred among people aged 20-39 years, mainly among rural workers. The most frequent local clinical manifestations were pain, edema, and ecchymosis. The most common systemic clinical manifestations include neuroparalysis, vagal syndrome, and myolysis. Most snakebites occurred between January and March. The municipalities with the highest number of notifications were Buriticupu (936 cases), Arame (705 cases), and Grajaú (627 cases). Conclusions: The clinical profile of snakebites in Maranhão is similar to that observed in other states of Northeast Brazil. However, we found that some systemic manifestations are not compatible with the etiology of snakebites, which leads us to believe that the problem could be the lack of knowledge of the health professionals at the site of envenomation, who may not be ready for attendance, and an important lack of health centers with snake antivenom to treat snakebites.

RESUMO O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o perfil epidemiológico e a distribuição espacial dos casos de sífilis gestacional e congênita. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, exploratória e retrospectiva, com abordagem quantitativa, realizada em Caxias (MA). Utilizaram-se os dados das fichas de investigação dos casos confirmados de sífilis gestacional e congênita do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação no período de 2013 a 2017. Com a tecnologia Global Positioning System (Sistema de Posicionamento Global), foram coletadas as coordenadas dos casos, e com o programa Quantum GIS, versão 1.7.0, os mapas foram construídos. Foram 149 casos de sífilis gestacional, apresentando crescimento de 73% no período. As maiores prevalências ocorreram em mulheres jovens, pardas, com baixa escolaridade e donas de casa. Evidenciou-se maior frequência do diagnóstico no terceiro trimestre gestacional, com maior prevalência de sífilis primária. Foram 18 casos de sífilis congênita, com redução de 33% na taxa de detecção e prevalência na idade entre 1 e 28 dias de vida. Na análise espacial, as zonas Oeste e Leste, periferia do município, concentraram o maior número de casos. Revelou-se frágil o manejo de investigação, tornando necessária a educação permanente para qualificar os profissionais, com o intuito de instituir a identificação precoce, o tratamento oportuno e o acompanhamento efetivo.

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to analyze the epidemiological profile and spatial distribution of gestational and congenital syphilis cases. This is a descriptive, exploratory and retrospective research, with a quantitative approach, conducted in Caxias (MA). Data from case reports confirmed by gestational and congenital syphilis of the Notification Recording Information System from 2013 to December 2017 were used. With the Global Positioning System technology, case coordinates were collected, and with the Quantum GIS program, version 1.7.0, the maps were built. There were 149 cases of gestational syphilis, presenting a growth of 73% in the period. The highest prevalence occurred in young, brown women with low schooling and housewives. Higher frequency of diagnosis in the third gestational trimester was evidenced, with higher prevalence of primary syphilis. There were 18 cases of congenital syphilis, with a 33% reduction in detection rate and age prevalence between 1 and 28 days of life. In the spatial analysis, the West and East zones, outskirts of the municipality, concentrated the largest number of cases. It reveals the fragility in the research management, making it detrimental to permanent education, to qualify the professionals, in order to institute early identification, timely treatment and effective follow-up.

RESUMO O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar o perfil epidemiológico e a distribuição espacial dos casos de sífilis gestacional e congênita. Trata-se de uma pesquisa descritiva, exploratória e retrospectiva, com abordagem quantitativa, realizada em Caxias (MA). Utilizaram-se os dados das fichas de investigação dos casos confirmados de sífilis gestacional e congênita do Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação no período de 2013 a 2017. Com a tecnologia Global Positioning System (Sistema de Posicionamento Global), foram coletadas as coordenadas dos casos, e com o programa Quantum GIS, versão 1.7.0, os mapas foram construídos. Foram 149 casos de sífilis gestacional, apresentando crescimento de 73% no período. As maiores prevalências ocorreram em mulheres jovens, pardas, com baixa escolaridade e donas de casa. Evidenciou-se maior frequência do diagnóstico no terceiro trimestre gestacional, com maior prevalência de sífilis primária. Foram 18 casos de sífilis congênita, com redução de 33% na taxa de detecção e prevalência na idade entre 1 e 28 dias de vida. Na análise espacial, as zonas Oeste e Leste, periferia do município, concentraram o maior número de casos. Revelou-se frágil o manejo de investigação, tornando necessária a educação permanente para qualificar os profissionais, com o intuito de instituir a identificação precoce, o tratamento oportuno e o acompanhamento efetivo.

ABSTRACT The aim of the present study was to analyze the epidemiological profile and spatial distribution of gestational and congenital syphilis cases. This is a descriptive, exploratory and retrospective research, with a quantitative approach, conducted in Caxias (MA). Data from case reports confirmed by gestational and congenital syphilis of the Notification Recording Information System from 2013 to December 2017 were used. With the Global Positioning System technology, case coordinates were collected, and with the Quantum GIS program, version 1.7.0, the maps were built. There were 149 cases of gestational syphilis, presenting a growth of 73% in the period. The highest prevalence occurred in young, brown women with low schooling and housewives. Higher frequency of diagnosis in the third gestational trimester was evidenced, with higher prevalence of primary syphilis. There were 18 cases of congenital syphilis, with a 33% reduction in detection rate and age prevalence between 1 and 28 days of life. In the spatial analysis, the West and East zones, outskirts of the municipality, concentrated the largest number of cases. It reveals the fragility in the research management, making it detrimental to permanent education, to qualify the professionals, in order to institute early identification, timely treatment and effective follow-up.

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência de toxoplasmose e identificar os principais fatores associados à sororeatividade em gestantes atendidas em dois centros de referência em uma cidade do Nordeste do Brasil.MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo transversal com 561 gestantes atendidas em dois centros de referência para pré-natal de alto risco em uma cidade do Nordeste do Brasil. Todas foram entrevistadas por meio de um questionário epidemiológico e foram coletadas amostras de sangue em que foram realizadas sorologia anti-Toxoplasma gondiipara IgG e IgM (ELISA), teste de avidez da IgG e reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). A análise estatística foi realizada com o programa SPSS version 18.0 Windows, usando odds ratio e intervalo de confiança de 95%, considerando-se o nível de significância de 5%.RESULTADOS: Constatou-se sororeatividade para toxoplasmose em 437 (77,0%), susceptibilidade em 124 (22,1%) e 5 (0,9%) gestantes com infecção ativa. Não encontramos associação significativa entre sororeatividade para toxoplasmose e idade, procedência, renda, escolaridade, situação da rede de esgotos, número de gestações e idade gestacional. As variáveis com associação significativa (p≤0,05) para sororeatividade foram: multigestas (p=0,03) e convívio com cães soltos na rua (p=0,001).CONCLUSÕES: O estudo permitiu identificar uma alta sororeatividade para toxoplasmose entre as pacientes atendidas no pré-natal, assim como os fatores associados à sororeatividade, devendo ser reforçadas orientações apropriadas sobre medidas de prevenção primária e monitoramento sorológico trimestral das gestantes nesse município e outras regiões do Nordeste do Brasil.

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and to identify the main factors associated with seroreactivity in pregnant women cared for at two reference centers in a city in Northeast Brazil.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 561 pregnant women at two high-risk prenatal reference centers in a city in Northeast Brazil. All women were interviewed using an epidemiological questionnaire and had their blood samples collected for the following serological tests: anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM (ELISA), IgG avidity test, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 18.0 for Windows, calculating odds ratio, confidence interval of 95% and with the level of significance set at 5%.RESULTS: Seroreactivity for toxoplasmosis was detected in 437 women (77.0%), susceptibility in 124 (22.1%) and active infection in 5 (0.9%). There was no significant association between seroreactivity for toxoplasmosis and age, location, income, education, availability of sewage, number of pregnancies or gestational age. The variables significantly associated (p≤0.05) with seroreactivity were multiparity (p=0.03) and living with stray dogs (p=0.01).CONCLUSIONS: This study identified high seroreactivity for toxoplasmosis among patients seen during prenatal care, as well as factors associated with seroreactivity. Appropriate guidelines about primary preventive measures should be emphasized and quarterly serological monitoring is recommended for pregnant women in this city and elsewhere in the Northeast of Brazil.

Introduction Knowledge of the prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii dissemination among pregnant women is relevant because the parasite can be spread from mother to infant. The objective of this study was to assess the epidemiology and risk factors of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women from Gurupi, State of Tocantins, Brazil, from February 2012 to June 2013. Methods The study population included 487 pregnant women. Sociodemographic, dietary and cultural data were collected using a standardized and validated form. Peripheral blood was collected for serologic testing using the ELISA test (IgM/IgG antibodies). The data were analyzed by comparing seropositivity with risk factors using crude and adjusted odds ratios. Results The prevalence rate for IgG and IgM antibodies was 68.7% and 5.7%, respectively. Sociodemographic characteristics associated with toxoplasmosis risk included the following: education level ≤ 8 years (OR: 6.612; CI: 1.450-30.144), age ≥ 30 years (OR: 5.273; CI: 1.166-23.844), working outside the home (OR: 1.604; CI: 1.015-2.536), and family income of two minimum wages or lower (OR: 2.700; CI: 1.891-8.182). Regarding dietary habits, there was a significant association of seropositivity with meat intake (OR: 1.78; CI: 1.149-4.080), cutting vegetables without washing the cutting board beforehand (OR: 2.051; CI: 1.165-3.614), frequent intake of vegetables (OR: 2.051; CI: 1.368-3.006) and in natura milk intake (OR: 2.422; CI: 1.014-5.785). Conclusions The high prevalence rates of toxoplasmosis in Gurupi are related to age, raw meat and in natura milk intake, as well as education level, working outside the home, and poor hygienic habits during meal preparation.