LETTERS

Dear readers,

Reading the revision of the article entitled ‘HANSENIASE EM MENORES DE 15 ANOS” published in An Bras Dermatol 2016;91 (2):196-203 I noticed some mistakes that I believe should be clarified due to the relevance of the subject, especially when the Ministry of Health, through CGHDE, is investing in campaigns at schools aiming at early diagnosis of leprosy in subjects younger than 15 years of age.¹

The article was received at the Annals on 28/APR/2014 and after approved by the Editorial Board, accepted for publication on 16/SEP/2014. The authors are Marcela Bahia Barreto de Oliveira and Lucia Martins Diniz.

On page 201, in item regarding vaccination by BCG we can read: “the Ministry of Health recommends the application of two doses of BCG vaccine whenever there is household contact with leprosy, whether PB or MB, with a 6-month interval between doses. Reference #21 corresponds to: Brasil - Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Políticas de Saúde. Departamento de Atenção Básica. Guia para o controle de Hanseníase. Brasília. Ministério da Saúde, 2002, série A. Normas e Manuais Técnicos n.111.

This reference was overuled by Ordinance # 3.125 of October 7, 2010 where, in item 3.3.1, we read: Recommendations regarding the use of BCG vaccine for household contact with leprosy, followed by a chart with the recommendations: evaluation of the vaccine scar: no scar: prescribe one dose; with one BCG scar: prescribe one dose; with two BCG scars: no dose should be prescribed. Source: Caderno de Atenção Básica nº 21, DAB/SAS/ MS, 2 ed. rev. 2008.

On page 201, Table 2 as it is typed could be misleading regarding drug dosage and administration; new typing is necessary, with separation of variables. The reference cited above is from 2002 and, although there is no difference in drug dosage and administration, it would be convenient, in my opinion, to use a table model more up to date, like those presented in item 2.2.2. of the Ordinance of 2010.

The reason for sending this message is an acknowledgement of the importance of the Annals to the national and international scientific community, mainly among the dermatologists and hansenologists, as they contain updated references that take into consideration their repercussion in the practice of not standardized information for action aimed at controlling Hansen’s disease in our country.

Sincerely,

Maria Eugenia Noviski Gallo

REFERENCES

• ¹
  Oliveira MBB, Diniz LM. Leprosy among children under 15 years of age: literature review. An Bras Dermatol. 2016;91(2):196-203.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  May-Jun 2016

History

• Received
  20 May 2016
• Accepted
  20 May 2016