01649nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001100055653002500066653002100091653001100112653001100123653001200134653000900146653001500155100002200170700001600192245010700208300001100315490000700326520106000333022001401393       2008                            d  c2008 Feb10aBrazil10aDisease Notification10aEndemic Diseases10aFemale10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aPrevalence1 aSilva Sobrinho RA1 aMathias TAF00a[Prospects for the elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in the State of Paraná, Brazil].  a303-140 v243 a<p>Leprosy, an endemic contagious/infectious disease, is still a public health problem in most States of Brazil, despite an important decrease in the prevalence rate in recent years. The current study aims to analyze the prospects for the elimination of leprosy in the State of Paraná, based on detection and prevalence rates for the years 2000 to 2005, in addition to data on gender, age, clinical form, operational classification, and number of skin lesions. Data were obtained from the Reportable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the Tabnet software. Leprosy detection and prevalence rates in Paraná remained unaltered during the study period. The leprosy detection rates were high or very high in the majority of the health districts in the State. In terms of prevalence, eight health districts had reached the goal of eliminating the disease. In conclusion, the State of Paraná is close to reaching the goal of eliminating leprosy. Based on the study results, actions are recommended to eliminate the disease as a public health problem.</p>  a0102-311X