EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF VIRAL HEPATITIS CASES IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CAXIAS MARANHÃO: FROM 2017 TO 2022

ABSTRACT Viral hepatitis represents a serious public health problem due to its high prevalence, incidence and mortality. Hepatitis caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV), are transmitted parenterally, are not highly contagious, and are capable of leading to the development of chronic disease. The objective of the present study was to analyze and describe the epidemiological profile of cases of hepatitis reported from 2017 to 2022 in the city of Caxias Maranhão and to contribute with knowledge on the subject. It was a descriptive research with a quantitative approach on the reported cases of viral hepatitis in the Caxias State scenario, totaling 41 reported cases. The data show that, over the years, notifications of hepatitis cases in the city of Caxias have been reduced. The highest number of cases was observed in 2017 (34.1%) and the lowest number in 2021 (0%). Among Viral Hepatitis, hepatitis B had a higher occurrence, with a frequency of 46.6%. The relevance of creating more studies on this topic is concluded, focusing on the incidence and underreporting of viral hepatitis cases to help the epidemiological surveillance authorities to develop actions in order to make health professionals aware of the importance of case notification