Conhecimento dos profissionais de serviços de atenção primária à saúde sobre doença de Chagas em municípios do Médio Araguaia matogrossense

Abstract

The Chagas disease (DC) is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, being considered by the World Health Organization (OMS) one of the most neglected tropical diseases throughout the world. The protozoan has as invertebrate hosts the triatomines (Barber) and vertebrate hosts, the mammals. In humans induces with various clinical manifestations. In the acute phase and possible speech therapy with the eradication of parasitic infection, already in the chronic phase, there are only treatment of complications of the disease, which may present with severe heart diseases, and changes in the digestive tract. As the acute phase has symptoms that can be commonly associated to other diseases and, until now, there is no treatment for infection in the chronic phase, it is essential that have prophylactic measures for control of vectors, by means of the actions of public sectors of entomological surveillance and epidemiological surveillance, as well as the orientation of the population exposed to the triatomines and, even, of health professional. Purpose of this study was to verify the knowledge of professionals of primary health care services, on the Chagas Disease and its vectors and, still, as must be the control of Chagas disease. It is a quantitative, exploratory and descriptive research. The study included 18 Family Health Units in the municipalities of Pontal do Araguaia-MT and Barra do Garças-MT. It was attended by 127 professionals, including nurses, doctors, dentists, nursing technicians, community health agents, oral health aides, and administrative technicians. We observed that the knowledge of professionals in general are not sufficient for the implementation of measures for vector control and management of infection by T. cruzi recommended by the program for the Control of Chagas Disease, the Ministry of Health. Given the risk of endemic areas of triatomines, it is necessary to promote the actions of capacitation of professionals in primary health care, to act with efficiency in vector control and epidemiological in early diagnosis and management of cases of Chagas Disease.