Incidence of tuberculous meningitis in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Introduction The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of tuberculous meningitis in the State of Santa Catarina (SC), Brazil, during the period from 2001 to 2010. Methods Ecological, temporal, and descriptive methods were employed using data obtained from the Information System on Disease Notification (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação). Results One hundred sixteen reported cases of tuberculous meningitis occurred from 2001 to 2010, corresponding to 1.2% (0.2 cases/100,000 inhabitants) of all meningitis cases reported in SC. There was a predominance of new cases in males, corresponding to 56.9% of new cases (0.2 cases/100,000 inhabitants; males vs. females; p=0.374), in patients aged 20-39 years, corresponding to 52.6% of new cases (0.5 cases/100,000 inhabitants; 20-39 years versus others; p<0.001), and in urban areas, corresponding to 91.4% of new cases (0.2 cases/100,000 inhabitants; urban vs. rural; p=0.003). In 48.3% of cases, the outcome was death. Conclusions The incidence rate of tuberculous meningitis in SC has increased within the last decade, with the most affected population comprising young adult white males with an average education. Thus, tuberculous meningitis remains a serious disease, emphasizing the need for disease prevention with vaccination campaigns against tuberculosis, the development of faster and more accurate diagnostic methods, and the use of current epidemiological knowledge regarding the disease to facilitate the establishment of early treatment. .

Análise dos dados epidemiológicos dos laudos de carcinoma espinocelular / Analysis of epidemiological data from the reports of squamous cell carcinoma

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: O carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) é um tumor maligno das células queratinizantes da epiderme e seus anexos, sendo resultante da radiação solar cumulativa durante toda a vida. Mais comum em pacientes idosos, acima dos 70 anos. O objetivo deste estudo foi estudar o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes diagnosticados com CEC. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal e descritivo no município de Criciúma, SC, no período de junho de 2009 a junho de 2010. A população foi composta por 74 pacientes com diagnóstico de CEC comprovados em três laboratórios de patologia que são enviados a grande totalidade dos laudos do sistema público de saúde e privado. Para verificar se as diferenças encontradas entre grupos quanto a dados paramétricos foi significativa (p < 0,05) utilizou-se o teste t de Student e para os dados não paramétricos foi utilizado o teste do Qui-quadrado. Os valores obtidos foram comparados e a análise estatística realizada através dos softwares SPSS e Microsoft Excel. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi de 69,46 anos. O sexo mais acometido foi o feminino 55,4%. Todos os pacientes apresentavam ceratose actínica sendo a face o local mais acometido (72,9%). A maioria dos pacientes com efélides, também apresentavam queimadura solar na infância 73%. Em relação a cor dos cabelos, 54% possuíam cabelos claros e 50% olhos claros. 43,2% dos pacientes relataram exposição solar continua. CONCLUSÃO: O perfil epidemiológico associado ao câncer de pele epidermoide foi compatível com a literatura atual.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant tumor of keratinizing cells of the epidermis and its annexes, and is the result of cumulative solar radiation over lifetime. It is more common in elderly patients over 70 years. The objective of this study was to analyze the epidemiological profile of patients diagnosed with SCC. METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive study in the city of Criciúma, state of Santa Catarina, from June 2009 to July 2010. The population consisted of 74 patients with diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed in three pathology laboratories to where most reports from the public and private health system are sent. In order to check whether the differences between groups regarding parametric data were significant (p < 0.05), we used the Student t test, and for the nonparametric data Chi-square test was used. The values were compared and statistical analysis was performed with the use of SPSS and Microsoft Excel software.RESULTS: The mean age was 69.46 years. The most affected gender was the female, with 55.4%. All patients had actinic keratosis, with the face being the most commonly affected (72.9%).Most patients with ephelides also had sunburns in childhood (73%). Regarding color of hair, 54% had light hair, and 50%had light-colored eyes. 43.2% of patients reported continuous exposure to sunlight.CONCLUSION: The epidemiological profile associated with squamous cell skin cancer is consistent with current literature.