Abstract

Introduction: American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis (ATL) is a neglected disease caused by the Leishmania protozoan, transmitted by phlebotomine sandflies; it has a high incidence in Brazil, particularly in the North and Northeast regions. Factors such as the tropical climate, deforestation, unplanned urban expansion, and a lack of basic sanitation favor the proliferation of the vector. Objective: To investigate the epidemiological profile of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in Brazil from 2015 to 2024. Methodology: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional epidemiological study using secondary data from SINAN/DATASUS. Data were tabulated in Excel—where graphs, tables, and maps were created—and analyzed using the Bioestat 5.3 software to perform descriptive statistics. Data were expressed in terms of frequencies, mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation. Results: The results showed that n=159081 cases were recorded in the country between 2015 and 2024, with the highest prevalence in the North region, followed by the Northeast and Center-West. The most affected age group was 20 to 59 years old, with a predominance of men (n=47,566 cases) and individuals self-identifying as mixed-race/brown (65,20%). Low levels of education and illiteracy were also associated with greater vulnerability. There was a 59.84% reduction in cases between 2015 (n=20708) and 2024 (n=8316). Final considerations: Despite the reduction in cases, ATL remains a public health challenge; the persistence of a high number of cases necessitates integrated strategies involving vector control, health education, and policies to reduce social inequalities. Morbidity is linked to socioeconomic and cultural factors, requiring integrated actions across various sectors of society—such as health, education, and social assistance—to effectively control this disease.

Keywords

epidemiology, leishmaniasis, American tegumentary leishmaniasis