THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF DEATHS FROM INFECTIOUS AND PARASITIC DISEASES IN CHILDREN AGED 1 TO 9 IN THE STATE OF PARÁ IN THE PERIOD FROM 2021 TO 2023

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa, while parasitic diseases are mainly caused by protozoa, helminths, or ectoparasites. These diseases have a significant incidence in childhood, as they can lead to infant mortality. Therefore, the importance of this study for public health is highlighted. Objective: To describe the epidemiological profile of mortality from infectious and parasitic diseases in children aged 1 to 9 years in the state of Pará during the period from 2021 to 2023. Material and Methods: This is a descriptive, retrospective, and quantitative epidemiological study based on secondary data provided by the Department of Informatics of the SUS (DATASUS) to analyze the number of mortalities resulting from infectious and parasitic diseases. The data obtained covers the period from January 2021 to December 2023, and the variables analyzed were: cause, age group, color or race, and municipality. Results: From the information obtained, it was found that the total number of children aged 1 to 9 years who died from infectious and parasitic diseases in Pará between 2021 and 2023 was 157, which corresponds to 9.43% of all mortalities in this age group in the state of Pará. The most common cause was intestinal infectious diseases (47 deaths), followed by diarrhea and presumed infectious gastroenteritis, and other bacterial diseases (both with 39 deaths). The most affected age group was 1 to 4 years (115 deaths, 73.24%) compared to the 5 to 9 years age group (42 deaths). Regarding color/race, there was a predominance of deaths in mixed-race children (62.42%). When analyzing by municipality, Belém stood out (43 deaths), followed by Santarém (10 deaths) and Marabá (8 deaths). Conclusion: The identified data revealed a profile based on the majority of cases: patients between 1 and 4 years old, with a predominance of deaths due to diarrhea and presumed infectious gastroenteritis. This age group can be associated with poor hygiene practices, which contribute to the transmission of these infectious diseases, as well as being more susceptible to developing severe symptoms, which worsens their prognosis. This information suggests the need to intensify hygiene care, particularly by educating parents, caregivers, and daycare centers, as well as paying closer attention to vector proliferation, which is common in the Amazon region, in order to reduce infant deaths from infectious and parasitic diseases in the state of Pará.