PERFIL EPIDEMIOLÓGICO DOS ÓBITOS POR TENÍASE E CISTICERCOSE NO BRASIL

Abstract

Introduction: The taeniasis/cysticercosis complex (TCC) consists of a set of pathologies caused by species of Taenia solium and T. saginata. Classified as a neglected tropical disease, TCC acts as a strong indicator of socioeconomic vulnerability, being intrinsically associated with poor sanitation and a lack of health education in developing countries. Objective: To outline the epidemiological profile of deaths related to taeniasis and cysticercosis registered in Brazil. Methodology: A quantitative and descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the ICD-10 Mortality Monitoring Panel, covering the period from 2008 to 2018. The variables analyzed were sex, race/color, age group, and federative unit, in addition to calculating mortality rates. Results: During the analyzed period, 7 deaths due to taeniasis and 976 due to cysticercosis were identified. The profile of deaths due to taeniasis showed a prevalence of 51.4% for the variables sex and race/color, being female and black, respectively. In contrast, for cysticercosis, the same variables showed a value of 57.3% for males and 50% for white race/color. The highest mortality rate for cysticercosis was 0.51 deaths per million inhabitants, recorded in 2013, showing a downward trend throughout the historical series. São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Paraná concentrated more than half of the deaths from cysticercosis. Conclusion: The findings suggest a probable underreporting of the complex due to the absence of mandatory national notification. The need for structural investments in basic sanitation, improved epidemiological monitoring within the One Health ecosystem, and strengthened health education initiatives to mitigate mortality from these parasitic diseases in Brazil is evident.