Consequences of the interaction between leprosy and pregnancy

Objective: to search and analyze the available evidence in the scientific literature that approached the maternal and fetal implications arising from the interaction between leprosy and pregnancy. Method: descriptive study, carried out in December 2011 through an integrative review of literature, in the CINAHL, MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases, by the research question "What are the implications of the interaction between leprosy and pregnancy for the woman and the baby?". Inclusion criteria were: articles available in full published in Portuguese, English, Spanish and French, with no temporal limits; answer the research question, resulting in eight jobs in the final sample. The data of the selected articles were condensed into a form that included article title, publication year, language, country of study, objectives, study design, and the results and conclusion highlights. A critical analysis of the sample was carried through the description of the related case report and meta-analysis. Results: all texts corresponded to the case study, 6 of them were Brazilian, but only 4 were diagnosed in Brazil. The previous contact with leprosy patients was reported in 3 cases. The disease was mainly diagnosed in the first trimester of pregnancy, and in 5 cases the fetus was born without changes. Lepromatous leprosy prevailed (5), and disabilities were registered in 6 cases. Leprosy reaction was present in 7 cases. Conclusion: we verified the importance of researching for signs of leprosy in pregnant women, making the differential diagnosis with other common skin changes in pregnancy. Descriptors: pregnancy, leprosy, health promotion. RESUMO Objetivo: analisar as evidências disponíveis na literatura que abordam as implicações maternas e fetais decorrentes da interação entre hanseníase e gravidez. Método: estudo descritivo, realizado em dezembro de 2011, por meio de revisão integrativa da literatura, nas bases de dados: CINAHL, MEDLINE, e SCOPUS, seguindo a questão de pesquisa: Quais as repercussões da interação ...