Features of Clinical and Epidemiological Reactions of Leprosy Cases in a City of the High Backlands of Paraíba

Introduction: the reaction states or leprosy reactions are periods of acute inflammation in the course of a chronic illness, the main cause of damage to the nerves and disabilities caused by leprosy. They are divided into three types: reversal reaction, erythema nodosum leprosum and isolated neuritis. Objective: to describe the clinical characteristics of cases of leprosy reactions in a city of high backlands of Paraiba. Method: utilized a structured and individual questionnaire applied in the homes of patients and former patients of Hansen's disease who developed leprosy reactions , registered in the three Family Health Units with more cases of leprosy in the city of Cajazeiras – PB. Results: among the 22 participants, most were male, aged over 61 years old and incomplete primary education. Regarding the classification of leprosy, 90.9% were multibacillary and 77.2 % of the blackening clinical form. When evaluated the type of reaction, 68.2 % were considered cases of RR or type 1 reaction, 45.5 % developed reactions during treatment and 40.9% after discharge by cure. Conclusion: the study demonstrates the need for qualification of the professionals in the primary health care to a greater and better monitoring of these cases by the Family Health Strategy, so much so that the leprosy reactions are diagnosed early during treatment and after discharge, as mainly for carrying out monitoring conducts of neural damage and prevention of physical disabilities, avoiding them from installing deformities that impair daily activities and the interaction of these people in society.