Conhecimentos e percepção sobre esporotricose em região endêmica: Pelotas, RS, Brasil

Abstract

Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis with worldwide distribution, caused by the fungal species Sporothrix schenckii complex, its endemic in areas with temperatures between 25-28ºC. Cause a chronic infection in humans, with significant economic and social impact, causing direct and indirect losses in population. To study the knowledge of the population in endemic areas, a cross-sectional, population-based between December, 2013 and February, 2014 was conducted in the city of Pelotas - RS, using a structured questionnaire divided into three sections. In the first section, global data such as age , sex, occupation, education, the second section data on the relationship between respondents with pets, and the third section on knowledge and perceptions were collected interviewed about definitions and concepts about mycosis, zoonosis and knowledge of sporotrichosis. 618 interviews, being composed of 40.94% (253/618) men and 59.06% (365/618) of women were conducted. 73.62% (455/618) are owners of pets. Of these, 50.32% (229/455) kept their animals out of home with 21.53% (49/229) of these are cats. In the population that does not have pets, the cat was the species with greater contact between 19.02% (31/163) respondents. Students achieved the best performance on questions about knowledge of ringworm and zoonosis. On knowledge of sporotrichosis least half of the students 44.17% (273/618) and 26.51% (164/618) of health professionals were aware, all other categories were below 5% accuracy. Although the city of Pelotas - RS, is considered an endemic area for sporotrichosis, we found a low level of knowledge about sporotrichosis by population, for this, greater awareness and information about the disease is necessary.