Dados do Trabalho

Título

PREVALENCE AND NEUROLOGICAL IMPACT OF CONGENITAL TOXOPLASMOSIS IN CHILDREN IN BRAZIL: AN ANALYSIS OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA FROM 2019 TO 2023

Introdução

Congenital toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which has a predilection for the central nervous system and can lead to severe neurological complications.

Objetivo

To analyze the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of congenital toxoplasmosis in children up to 1 year of age in Brazil, since the epidemiology of this disease is crucial to understanding its magnitude and impacts.

Método

A descriptive analysis of DATASUS data was carried out for children diagnosed with congenital toxoplasmosis up to the first year of life, between 2019 and 2023. Notified cases, geographic distribution, race, sex, deaths and diagnostic criteria were analyzed.

Resultados

The Southeast Region leads the notifications of congenital toxoplasmosis in children up to 1 year old, with 33% of cases, followed by the Northeast (28%), South (17%), Central-West (11%) and North (10% ). The distribution by sex is almost balanced, with 49.6% of cases in boys and 49.7% in girls. In relation to race, 49.4% of cases are mixed race, 33.1% white, 3.0% black, 0.4% yellow and 0.8% indigenous, with 13.4% of records ignored. The Southeast Region also has the highest death rate (40%), followed by the Northeast (21%), South (18%), North (12%) and Central-West (8%). The majority of cases are reported based on laboratory criteria (66%), while 10% are based on clinical-epidemiological criteria and 24% are ignored. Neurological manifestations of congenital toxoplasmosis include hydrocephalus, intracranial calcifications, microcephaly, seizures, motor dysfunction, cerebellar dysfunction, neurological retardation, and mental illness. Despite treatment, there is a risk of sequelae due to reactivation of the infection. Early intervention can mitigate adverse consequences, but late neurological manifestations can still occur.

Conclusão

The Southeast Region has the highest number of notifications and deaths due to congenital toxoplasmosis in children up to 1 year old, affecting boys and girls equally, with a higher prevalence among brown children. The high rate of ignored records and the predominance of laboratory criteria for reporting suggest the need to improve data collection and documentation. Furthermore, the persistence of significant sequelae even after treatment highlights the need for more effective strategies for screening and treatment.

Referências

BRASIL. Ministério da Saúde. Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). Toxoplasmose congênita, 2024. Disponível em: http://tabnet.datasus.gov.br/cgi/deftohtm.exe?sinannet/cnv/toxocongenitabr.def.

DEGANICH, Myla; BOUDREAUX, Crystal; BENMERZOUGA, Imaan. Toxoplasmosis Infection during Pregnancy. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, [S. l.], v. 8, n. 1, p. 3, 2022.

OZ, Helieh. Fetomaternal and Pediatric Toxoplasmosis. Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, [S. l.], v. 12, n. 04, p. 202–208, 2017.

Palavras Chave

Congenital Toxoplasmosis; Brazil; Prevalence