Preliminary validation of the Brazilian version of SPRouT for screening reading difficulties.

Leprosy is one of the oldest and most stigmatized chronic diseases. It is caused by two mycobacteria: and . Clinically, it is characterized by localized or disseminated skin lesions and frequently involves peripheral nerves. Without proper treatment, peripheral nerve damage can lead to loss of sensation in skin lesions, motor dysfunction, claw hands, palmar and plantar ulcers, muscle atrophy, and consequent difficulties in walking and impaired manual or occupational abilities [,]. In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 172,717 new leprosy cases worldwide. Of these, 9,124 were newly diagnosed with grade 2 disability (G2D), a marker of delayed case detection and established visible impairments of the eyes, hands, and/or feet. Such disability largely reflects nerve damage that is often not fully reversible. Importantly, WHO emphasizes that nerve function impairment can still deteriorate during and after treatment: among cases in which nerve function assessment was recorded at treatment completion, 923/27,487 (3.4%) showed worsening, underscoring the need for close monitoring and timely interventions during and beyond multidrug therapy []. This global burden is especially relevant to Brazil. In the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s most recent consolidated report (2015–2024 series), Brazil recorded 22,129 new cases in 2024, corresponding to a detection rate of 10.41 per 100,000 inhabitants (classified nationally as a “high” level). Moreover, 11.5% of new Brazilian cases already had grade 2 physical disability at diagnosis, reinforcing how frequently patients still reach care after substantial neural damage has occurred [].