THE PROBLEM OF UNDERREPORTING OF ACUTE DIARRHEAL DISEASE IN CHILDREN IN THE CITY OF PELOTAS-RS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In an attempt to increasingly reduce the number of cases and allow early detection, in Brazil, notification in the Epidemiological Surveillance Information System for Acute Diarrheal Diseases (ADD) is mandatory. From this, through notifications, it is possible to analyze the most prevalent regions and in which greater conducts are needed to reverse this scenario. Underreporting is a recurrent obstacle in Brazil and the municipality of Pelotas corroborates the national perspective, since the theme of acute diarrheal diseases reflects a major problem of underreporting of cases, whether municipal or national. Furthermore, learning and producing material on this problem during medical education becomes a potential strategy for the training of future conscious and informed physicians. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to report the experience of developing an education flowchart to raise awareness about the importance of reporting ADD cases to health professionals in the city of Pelotas, in addition to providing learning about compulsory notifications during medical education. METHODS: An experience report based on the experience of fourth-year medical students at the Catholic University of Pelotas, in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, on the creation of a flowchart to raise awareness of the compulsory notification of acute diarrheal disease during mandatory academic activity. RESULTS: After collecting information, a flowchart outline was elaborated, which was improved until the final version was obtained. In this article, we emphasize the importance of notifying and detail how this notification should be carried out, in an attempt to make professionals aware of the importance of the theme. The difficulty in the process of reporting diseases that are not always compulsory, as is the case of ADD, was noticeable, since the objection in clinical practice to notify all cases of diseases that are mandatory was perceived. CONCLUSION: The elaboration of this study allowed the learning of both the theme of underreporting in the municipality of Pelotas and also in relation to the correct completion of this document. Although it was not the objective of this report to conduct a research, we identified in some statements the difficulty of health professionals in carrying out the notification, a fact that we suggest be seen in other studies. In addition, it can be concluded that the purpose of understanding the importance and the way to notify Acute Diarrheal Disease in the municipality of Pelotas were achieved, as well as providing material for future awareness of academics and health professionals.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/sevened2025.011-041