Hanseníase: cuidados para evitar complicações

Abstract

The booklet "Hansen ´s Disease: care to avoid complications" was published in 1995 by UFRJ and founded by INFOLEP project. The proposal is to answer those common questions of a person who just received a diagnosis of Hansen´s Disease. This 5th 2022 edition, an e-book, with 36 pages was funded by a project coordinated by the NGO NHR, supported by Ministry of Health (MS) and PAHO. In addition to the technical update, the main characters show the diversity found in health professionals and users of the Brasilian Unified Health System (SUS), as well as replace terms such as “carriers of leprosy” to “people affected by Hansen´s Disease (HD). This disease is characterized as a chronic condition that requires longitudinal monitoring and adherence to self-care, supported by a multidisciplinary team. The booklet addresses reactions, adverse drug effects, personal life, contact examination and eye, hand and foot care. It is hoped that its expanded use, in online form, will be useful, especially in the discussion in self-care groups and added to other content related to a better understanding of HD, treatment and care to prevent disabilities in the SUS network.