Wegener granulomatosis: otologic manifestation as first symptom

Introduction Wegener granulomatosis is a systemic vasculitis affecting small and medium-sized vessels of the upper and lower respiratory tract and kidneys. Objective To describe a case of Wegener disease with atypical manifestation. Resumed Report We describe the case of a 50-year-old woman with chronic otitis media and sensorineural hearing loss as the primary symptoms, without other manifestations. Conclusion In cases of acute ear manifestations with or without hearing loss and with poor response to usual treatments,Wegener granulomatosis should be included among the possible etiologies. After adequate diagnoses and treatment of this rare disease, there was favorable evolution.

Perfil dos pacientes acometidos pela hanseníase atendidos no Ambulatório de Dermatologia do Hospital Evangélico de Curitiba / Profile of patients affected by Hansen's disease seen at the Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology at Hospital Evangélico de Curitiba

FUNDAMENTOS: A hanseníase é uma enfermidade infecto-contagiosa, com distribuição mundial. Apesar de curável, permanece como um problema de saúde pública, sendo o Brasil o segundo país mais endêmico do mundo. As lesões cutâneas e o acometimento neural, que levam às principais incapacidades físicas, pioram a autoestima dos doentes, levam a uma queda da qualidade de vida e interferem na vida dos mesmos. OBJETIVO: Traçar um perfil dos pacientes acometidos pela hanseníase, atendidos no Ambulatório de Dermatologia do Hospital Evangélico de Curitiba, e caracterizar os níveis de qualidade de vida da amostra na semana prévia à pesquisa, por meio do questionário Dermatology Life Quality Index. MÉTODO: Aplicação do Dermatology Life Quality Index em 22 pacientes diagnosticados com hanseníase no período de maio a outubro de 2009. RESULTADOS: Em meio aos 22 pacientes que participaram do estudo, encontraram-se 55 por cento do sexo masculino e 45 por cento do sexo feminino, com idade média de 50,2 anos. Os escores obtidos na aplicação do Dermatology Life Quality Index variaram de 1 a 25 pontos, sendo a média 10,23. A maioria dos pacientes (50 por cento) apresentou escore na dimensão do grave ou muito grave; 31,8 por cento dos pacientes, do leve ao moderado, e 18,2 por cento dos pacientes informaram que não houve comprometimento da qualidade de vida. CONCLUSÃO: O perfil de pacientes acometidos pela hanseníase encontrado neste estudo foram homens, com idade média de 50 anos e com forma multibacilar. A aplicação do Dermatology Life Quality Index permitiu verificar que o escore de comprometimento de qualidade de vida grave ou muito grave foi predominante na amostra, tendo mais impacto nas mulheres e não apresentando diferença em relação à hanseníase pauci ou multibacilar.

BACKGROUND: Leprosy or Hansen's disease is a chronic infectious disease with worldwide distribution. Although it is a curable disease, it remains as a public health problem, with Brazil being the second most endemic country in the world. The skin lesions and neural damage, which lead to physical disabilities, affect the patients' self-esteem, cause a decrease in quality of life and interfere in the patients' lives. OBJECTIVE: Identify the profile of the patients affected by leprosy seen at the Outpatient Clinic of Dermatology of Hospital Evangélico de Curitiba and characterize the levels of quality of life of the sample in the week prior to the survey by means of the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire. METHOD: Application of the Dermatology Life Quality Index to 22 patients diagnosed with leprosy in the period from May to October 2009. RESULTS: Among the 22 patients who participated in the study, 55 percent were male and 45 percent were female, with a mean age of 50.2 years. The scores obtained with the Dermatology Life Quality Index ranged from 1 to 25 points, with a mean of 10.23. Most of the patients (50 percent) had scores in the range severe or very severe; 31.8 percent of the patients obtained scores in the range mild or moderate, and 18.2 percent of the patients reported that there was no impairment of their quality of life. CONCLUSION: The profile of the patients affected by leprosy in this study were men, with a mean age of 50 years and presen ting the multibacillary form of the disease. The application of the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire allowed us to verify that the score severe or very severe for quality of life was predominant in the sample, with higher impact on women and no significant difference concerning pauci or multibacillary leprosy.