[First epidemiological description of visceral leishmaniasis in Campo Grande, State of Mato Grosso do Sul].

An epidemiological study was conducted on cases of visceral leishmaniasis that were notified in Campo Grande between 2001 and 2006, using data from the Brazilian information system for notifiable diseases (Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação, SINAN). In 2001, 577 cases were notified, giving an incidence of 1.47 cases/100,000. This rose to 20.98 cases/100,000 in 2006. From 2002 onwards, new cases were notified every month. Children up to nine years of age accounted for 40% of the cases. Males accounted for 64% of the cases and females, 36%. The death rate ranged from 5 to 11%, with a mean of 8%. Among the 44 deaths, 33 (75%) were male cases and 11 (25%) were female cases. Although elderly people accounted for 9% of the cases, mortality among them reached 39%. There were 27 cases of Leishmania /HIV coinfection (5%), with a mortality rate of 15%, mostly among men aged 20 to 49 years. A process of disease endemization with a high rate of incidence was observed.