OBJECTIVE:
to describe the epidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases reported in the municipality of Bauru, state of São Paulo, Brazil, 2004-2012.
METHODS:
this was a descriptive study using data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) managed by the Municipal Health Department.
RESULTS:
381 cases of VL were reported in the period and were distributed over 100 of the city's districts (28.6%); 61.7% of the studied cases were male; 43.8% were children aged ≤10 years; 98.4% lived in urban areas; VL/HIV co-infection rate was 9.2%; 8.1% of cases died.
CONCLUSION:
there were more cases among men and those living in the city's urban area, in low-income neighborhoods and those with low education; the diversification of these characteristics point to the need to optimize disease surveillance and control.
Leishmaniasis; Leishmaniasis, Visceral; Information Systems; Epidemiology, Descriptive