PERFIL DO TRATAMENTO PROFILÁTICO ANTIRRÁBICO HUMANO NO SUL DO BRASIL

The present study aimed to analyze the profile of anti-rabies prophylactic treatment of children and adolescents aged between zero and 15 years old, in the city of Maringa, state of Parana, Brazil. Data were collected on the Brazilian Notification Aggravation Information System (SINAN) from January to December 2010. Simple and absolute frequencies were performed for categorical variables, and, for associations of interest, univariate analyzes were carried out through Pearson's chi-square test, with confidence interval of 95% and level of confidence set at <0.05 for all analyzes. Among all 311 care services performed, 101 involved anti-rabies care records of children and adolescents. Regarding treatment prescriptions, out of 101, 37 (36.6%) were made to subjects aged between 0 and 10 years old, and 64 (63.4%) to those aged ≥ 10 and < 15 years old. The treatment prescribed presented statistically significant association with age (p= 0.0288). There is a need for an educative work with children, parents and the general population, toward raising their awareness on the risks and seriousness of rabies, besides the update of and attention to the therapeutic method employed by health professionals.